Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with the ProGRESS Project of ILO, Country Office for Bangladesh, organized and conducted a daylong “Awareness Raising Session on Gender Friendly Environment at Workplace” on 14th October 2024 at Conference hall, CSS Ava Center, 82 Rupsha Strand Rd, Khulna. The objective of the session was to build awareness of both the employers and employees in the areas of Gender Equity, Gender Equality, Gender Demand, Gender Role and Gender Based Violence. The session particularly sought to explain & identify the role of employers on issues related to gender in accordance with the provisions of the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006.

Mr. Joha Jamilur Rahman, Head of Training, BEF acted as resource person. In the opening session, he shared the objectives and expected outcomes of the session. He facilitated the whole session using participatory methods. A summary of the discussion and way forward was offered by him.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Md. Iftekhar Ali Babu, President, NASCIB, Khulna, chaired the inaugural session with welcoming the participants to the session. The Special Guests present were Mr. Kazi Neamul Shaheen, Principal, Government Khulna Mohila Polytechnic Institute (KMPI), Khalispur, Khulna and Adv. Shamima Sultana Shilu, Chief Executive-MSSUS & Divisional head-BWCCI, Khulna. Representatives of the NGO’s and Civil Society Organization have also taken part in the event. All the guests exchanged their views with the participants.

A total of 25 participants (Female-04, Male-21) including Government organization, TVET institute, Business Association, Employers, Employees from different industry sectors like Tourism, Care, Agro and ICT, participated in the session.