Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with the ProGRESS Project of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for Bangladesh, organized a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on the “Gender Equality Guidelines for Employers and Operational Manual for Employers and Business” during August 24–25, 2026, at the MCCI Gulshan Office in Dhaka.

The training aimed to equip industry leaders and HR professionals with practical tools to promote gender equality in the workplace. Participants were introduced to the Gender Operational Manual, relevant policy frameworks, practical templates, and monitoring mechanisms to help develop and implement gender-responsive workplace policies. Interactive sessions also encouraged peer learning and the development of organization-specific action plans.

Mr. Saidul Islam, Additional Secretary-General of BEF, inaugurated the program and emphasized gender equality as an important driver of business innovation and growth.

Mr. Joha Jamilur Rahman, Head of Training at BEF, facilitated the interactive sessions and outlined the program’s objectives and expected outcomes. Mr. Pedro Jr. Bellen, Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO ProGRESS Project, highlighted the importance of addressing gender issues to strengthen business competitiveness, particularly in the context of Bangladesh’s post-LDC graduation transition. Ms. Masreka Khan, Senior Programme Officer (Gender and Skills Policy), shared the ILO’s vision for advancing gender equality in business.

Around 23 representatives from businesses, employers’ organizations, HR departments, management, entrepreneurship, and Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) participated in the training.