Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated, “Many major problems can be solved if everyone in society comes forward bit by bit.” Assuring the private sector of the government’s full cooperation in humanitarian and social initiatives, he added, “The government will always stand by those who wish to participate in these public welfare activities.”
The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday (August 18) afternoon at his Secretariat office, formally inaugurating the distribution of 20,000 raincoats to protect tea garden workers in the Sylhet division from adverse weather conditions.
During the event, the Prime Minister inaugurated the program by handing over raincoats to ten tea workers from Sreemangal and Kamalganj. At this time, the Prime Minister inquired about the overall well-being of the workers. This information was provided by the Prime Minister’s Assistant Press Secretary, Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar (Pamir).
He stated, “Under this program, undertaken as a special initiative by the Ministry of Social Welfare, a total of 20,000 raincoats are being provided for workers in tea gardens across Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts. Of these, the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) is supplying 10,000, Chevron Bangladesh 5,000, and Pandughar Group 5,000 raincoats.”
Private sector representatives present at the event stated that playing a responsible role in the welfare of underprivileged and working-class people, alongside business activities, is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). They expressed a strong commitment to remain involved in improving the living standards and ensuring a safe working environment for tea workers and various marginalized communities in the future, in coordination with the government.
Upon receiving the raincoat, Santuki Roy, a worker from Sreemangal’s Majdihi tea garden, presented the Prime Minister with tea leaves as a goodwill gesture on behalf of the tea workers. On behalf of the tea workers, Shanti Uria, Munni Kurmi, Jyotsna Akter, Rina Tanti, Shashika Banerjee, Kobita Karmakar, Sujata Bishwas, Rita Rani Bauri, and Afkhatun Nahar were present and expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister and the involved organizations.
Among those present at the event were AZM Zahid Hossain, Minister of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs; Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Textiles and Jute; Arifur Haque Chowdhury, Minister of Labor and Employment; and Farzana Sharmin, State Minister of Social Welfare. Also present were Members of Parliament Imran Ahmed Chowdhury, Nasir Uddin Mithu, Md. Shawkatul Islam, M. Naser Rahman, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, GK Gauch, and SM Faisal.
Representatives from the private sector present at the event included Mosaddek Hossain, Senior Vice President of BAPI; Tapan Chowdhury, Advisor; Simin Rahman, CEO of Transcom Group; Md. Saiful Islam, Executive Director of BAPI; Md. Imrul Kabir, Ashiq Shehzad Rahman, and AKM Arif Akhtar, Head of Community Engagement, from Chevron Bangladesh; and Golam Habib, Chief of People & Corporate Affairs at Pandughar Group.
