Bangladesh hosts first national conference on occupational safety research

Bangladesh marked a milestone in labour and workplace safety as the country's first Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Research Conference was held at the National Occupational Safety and Health Training and Research Institute (Noshtri) in Rajshahi today (2 August).

The day-long event was organised by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), with technical and financial support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) under its Advancing Decent Work in Bangladesh project, funded by the Team Europe Initiative.

Held under the theme "Safe Work, Sustainable Future: Bridging Research & Practice in OSH," the conference aimed to strengthen the link between research and practice in promoting safer, more sustainable workplaces across the country.

Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the event as chief guest.

"We must work with the cooperation of all stakeholders for the development of the labour sector," he said. 

"Every worker has the right to work in a decent environment and to return home safely and in good health at the end of the day. We must ensure that. The government is working on research-based policymaking in line with international standards," he added.

Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman, attending as special guest, noted, "At present, 8 of the world's top 10 green factories are located in Bangladesh. This is a remarkable achievement.

"Noshtri will carry out research on the challenges and opportunities in the labour sector, and policies and action plans will be designed based on these findings. The institute will not only support Bangladesh's labour sector but can become a regional centre for labour research in Asia."

DIFE Inspector General Omar Md Imrul Mohsin, who chaired the event, said, "We are at a time where research can be the guiding light for effective policies and implementation. Noshtri's scientific research and targeted training will help reduce occupational risks across sectors including garments, tanneries, shipbreaking, and construction."

ILO's Technical Specialist for Labour Inspection and OSH, Ron Johnson, stressed the importance of building a preventive OSH culture. 

"Bangladesh's industrial growth makes it essential to strengthen its occupational safety and health systems. The ILO is committed to supporting institutions like Noshtri to build national capacity, promote compliance, and support sustainable development," he said.

Over 200 participants, including researchers, academicians, labour leaders, factory owners, government officials, and development partners, took part in the conference.

Eleven peer-reviewed papers were presented, followed by panel discussions that addressed key challenges and explored solutions for improving OSH standards.

Among the key outcomes were:

• A renewed national research agenda for OSH aligned with socio-economic priorities
• Stronger integration between research and policy formulation
• Government commitment to promoting a preventive safety culture across all sectors

Participants called for embedding OSH research into national governance frameworks and strengthening tripartite cooperation to drive long-term progress.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, DIFE, and Noshtri reaffirmed their commitment to building a safer and healthier working environment for Bangladesh's 60 million-strong workforce, including those in the informal sector.

The event signals the country's growing commitment to evidence-based, responsible labour governance.