Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), in collaboration with the ProGRESS Project of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Country Office for Bangladesh, organized a 2-day Training of Trainers (TOT) on the “Gender Equality Guidelines for the Employers and Operational Manual for the Employers and Business” on August 12-13, 2026 at the Conference Hall, Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI), Agrabad, Chattogram.
The TOT aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of gender equality principles, build facilitation and knowledge-sharing capacity, familiarize industry representatives with the Gender Operational Manual, and provide practical guidance, tools, and monitoring mechanisms for mainstreaming gender equality in workplace policies and practices. The training program demonstrated the framework of the Guidelines and the Operational Manual, allowing participants to review international and national policy commitments, master key components of gender-responsive workplace policies, and practice using practical tools, templates, and checklists. Interactive discussions enabled stakeholders to share their experiences and develop actionable implementation and dissemination plans for their respective organizations.
Mr. Joha Jamilur Rahman, Head of Training, BEF facilitated the session, outlining the objectives and expected outcomes, employing participatory methods to engage attendees throughout the sessions. Ms. Masreka Khan, Senior Programme Officer- Gender and Skills Policy, ProGRESS project of ILO chaired the inaugural session and extended a warm welcome to the attendees, providing speech about ILO’s views on gender equality and its implication in business.
Around 19 participants (Female-5 and Male 14), including representatives from business enterprises, employers, HR professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, and industry associations from Chattogram, actively participated in the training, contributing valuable insights to help promote gender-responsive workplace practices and strengthen sustainable equality initiatives in Bangladesh.
