Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday inaugurated a programme to distribute 20,000 raincoats among tea-garden workers to ensure their protection during adverse weather and create a safe working environment.
The initiative, undertaken by the Ministry of Social Welfare, targets workers employed in the tea gardens of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts.
Under this scheme, the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) provided 10,000 raincoats, while Chevron Bangladesh and Pandughar Group contributed 5,000 each.
Assistant Press Secretary Shahrier Pamir stated that the prime minister launched the programme at his office in the Secretariat by handing over raincoats to 10 tea workers. During the event, Tarique spoke with the workers and enquired about their well-being.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said significant social problems could be resolved if everyone in society contributes even a little. He assured the private sector of government support for humanitarian and social CSR initiatives, stating that the government stands by those willing to undertake such work.
On behalf of the workers, Santuki Rai of Majdihi Tea Garden presented tea leaves to the prime minister as a token of gratitude.
The tea workers present at the ceremony included Shanti Uria (Kalighat Tea Garden), Munni Kurmi (Makrichara Tea Garden), Jyotsna Akter (Bharaura Tea Garden), Rina Tanti and Sashika Banerjee (Rajghat Tea Garden), Santuki Rai (Majdihi Tea Garden), Kabita Karmakar (Phulbari Tea Garden), Sujata Biswas (Madhabpur Tea Garden), Rita Rani Bauri (Uttar Alinagar), and Afkhatun Nahar (Patrakhola Tea Garden).
The event was attended by Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, minister for Social Welfare and Women & Children Affairs; Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Minister for Commerce, Industry, and Textiles & Jute; Ariful Haque Choudhury, Minister for Labour and Employment; and Farzana Sharmin, Minister of State for Social Welfare.
Several Members of Parliament were also present, including Emran Ahmad Chowdhury (Sylhet-6), Nasir Uddin Mithu (Moulvibazar-1), Md Shawkatul Islam (Moulvibazar-2), M Naser Rahman (Moulvibazar-3), Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Moulvibazar-4), Alhaj Md GK Gaus (Habiganj-3), and S.M. Faisal (Habiganj-4).
Private sector representatives included Mosaddek Hossain, senior vice president of BAPI and managing director of Unimed & Unihealth; Tapan Chowdhury, adviser to BAPI and Managing Director of Square Pharmaceuticals; Simin Rahman, executive member of BAPI and managing director of SKF Pharmaceuticals; and Md Saiful Islam, executive director of BAPI.
Also in attendance were Md Imrul Kabir, corporate affairs director of Chevron Bangladesh; Ashik Shehzad Rahman, operations director of Chevron Bangladesh; AKM Arif Akhtar, Head of Community Engagement at Chevron Bangladesh; and Golam Habib, Chief of People and Corporate Affairs at Pandughar Group.
