24-10-2022

MondAy, octoBer 24, 2022
2
WWAs functioning properly
to ensure EPZ workers'
rights: Law Minister
In Sunamganj, there was a human chain and a protest meeting to demand the arrest of extortionists
who did repeated attacks on journalist Shaheen and his family, grabbed their land, and looted their
house at Bazarghat.
Photo: AK Milon
Sweden to partner UNFPA in
projects worth over $10 million
DHAKA : UNFPA and Sweden on Sunday
launched and signed a new partnership
agreement to support midwifery and
sexual and reproductive health and rights
(SRHR) in Bangladesh.
The signing ceremony of the new
project was held at the Embassy of
Sweden, Dhaka in the presence of
Alexandra Berg von Linde, the
Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh,
and Kristine Blokhus, the Representative
of UNFPA in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The partnership aims to support
UNFPA's efforts to strengthen the quality
and access to midwives and
comprehensive sexual and reproductive
health services (SRHR) in Bangladesh,
including in the most remote areas
affected by climate change.
The new collaboration between Sweden
and UNFPA with a funding of over US$
10 million for the period 2022-2026 will
establish and strengthen midwifery-led
comprehensive SRHR-services to
support the efforts of the government of
Bangladesh.
Currently, around 2550 midwives are
deployed by the government and 300
midwives are deployed through NGOs.
They serve in crises including floods,
cyclones, and in refugee situations.
They provide lifesaving support and
SRHR services with innovative methods
such as telemedicine. More midwives are
needed to give safe and accessible care to
mothers and children in Bangladesh.
Through the Swedish funding, UNFPA
aims to equip Bangladesh's health system
with competent and empowered
midwives to ensure that women and girls
can access the gender-transformative
health care that is their right.
This care will include support to safe
and wanted pregnancies and births, the
prevention and response to sexual
violence, as well as prevention and
treatment of reproductive infections and
cancers.
Midwives will also ensure access to
SRHR-services in the most remote and
climate-affected areas.
Swedish ambassador Linde said
Sweden has a long history of midwifery
and has supported Bangladesh midwives
for over a decade.
"We are pleased to continue working
with UNFPA and the government of
Bangladesh to further strengthen
midwifery led care in the country," she
said.
The envoy hoped that this new fouryear
project will improve the education of
midwives and the quality and access to
SRHR-services, to make health care
environmentally resilient, and ultimately
improve the health of women and
children in Bangladesh.
UNFPA Representative, Kristine
Blokhus said the generous, long-term
support we have received from the
government of Sweden over the last
decade has enabled us to support the
Ministry of Health of Bangladesh to
develop a professional cadre of midwives
educated to international standards - and
to integrate these lifesaving human
resources into the national health
system.
"We are deeply grateful to the
government of Sweden, which over many
years has been a close ally of UNFPA in
our mission to protect and improve the
lives of women and girls ensuring
comprehensive and lifesaving SRHR
services."
Blokhus said with this partnership they
begin a new chapter in their long
partnership. "Together we will continue
our support to the government of
Bangladesh in ensuring that every
pregnancy is wanted, and every
childbirth is safe."
ICMAB signs MoU
with Bogura Azizul
Haque College to
promote CMA studies
DHAKA : The Institute of
Cost and Management
Accountants of Bangladesh
(ICMAB) on Sunday signed
a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with
the Government Azizul
Haque College, Bogura to
promote the CMA
profession and offer easy
access to CMA program for
the aspiring professional
accountants.
ICMAB President
Mamunur Rashid and
college Principal Prof Md
Shajahan Ali signed the
MoU in Bogura, said a
media release.
Both the organisations
hoped that the partnership
will result in mutual
benefits for the institutions
in developing the human
capital of Bangladesh.
Highlighting several
aspects of the CMA
profession, the ICMAB
president said there is a
special need for the CMA
degree holders in the
administration and other
departments including the
accounting department of
various multinational
organisations, businesses
and
production
department of industrial
establishments.
He said that the
enrollment of new students
in the study center will
start from the next session.
Anisul Huq, MP, Minister for Law,
Justice and Parliamentary Affairs said,
Workers Welfare Associations (WWA) of
the EPZ enterprises are functioning
peacefully and properly to ensure legal
rights of the workers. He made the
comment recently during visiting Dhaka
EPZ.
The Law Minister said, the
government has enacted Bangladesh
EPZ Labour Act 2019 to ensure rights
and privileges of the workers which
established a congenial, safe and decent
working atmosphere in the EPZ. This
peaceful working atmosphere
encourages investors to set up factories
in the EPZs, he added. He appreciated
the contribution of the EPZ workers to
the development of the country by their
vibrant working activities, a press release
said.
He also lauded the role of BEPZA in
flourishing private sector of the country
by attracting investment, boosting export
through product diversification and
generating employment with
empowering women. He hoped that the
combined effort of workers, investors
along with BEPZA would help to become
a developed country as dreamt by the
Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Law Minister visited DEPZ to
observe the existing harmonious
working environment and workersowners-management
synergy along with
implementation of "Bangladesh EPZ
Labor Act, 2019".
The Executive Chairman of BEPZA
Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad
Ziaur Rahman, ndc, psc briefed the Law
Minister on overall activities of BEPZA
including tremendous achievement in
export, investment & employment,
labour rights & industrial relations,
decent workplace, cohesive teamwork
etc. He thanked Law Minister for playing
an important role in enacting a timely
EPZ Labour Act 2019 and formulating
EPZ Labour Rules 2022.
The Executive Chairman said, the
investors and workers are the main
driving forces of BEPZA's success.
Mentioning the peaceful working
environment prevailing in the EPZ he
hoped that the full implementation of EPZ
Labour Act & Labour Rules would
improve more the congenial & decent
working atmosphere.
Later, he visited three garments factory
i.e. British Virgin Island owned Hopyick
BD. Ltd., Japanese YKK (BD) Pte. Ltd.
and British Shanta Industries Ltd. He
observed the production process, working
environment along with Daycare Centers
of those factories. He also visited Dhaka
EPZ Hospital to see the medical facilities
of the workers.
Among others, Secretary, Legislative
and Parliamentary Affairs Division of
Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary
affairs Md. Moinul Kabir, Member
(Investment Promotion) of BEPZA Ali
Reza Mazid, Executive Director (Public
Relations) Nazma Binte Alamgir,
Executive Director (Enterprise Services)
Md. Khorshid Alam, Executive Director
(Security) Lt Col ASM Quamruzzaman,
PBGM, Executive Director (Dhaka EPZ)
Md. Abdus Sobhan investors and workers
representatives of DEPZ along with high
officials were present during this time.
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