Inaugural Session of Workers’ Festival

Addressing the inaugural session of the festival, BKMEA President Md. Fazlul Hoque said, ‘We are trying to take more care of the workers who make world-class apparels for export and have helped us to earn over $5.5 billion in foreign exchange in the last financial year.’ He also said ‘BKMEA has decided to arrange the ‘Workers’ Festival’ in each year’. The BKMEA’s directors and two senior knitwear workers, Md. Younus and Badsha Mia, who have been serving this sector for more than 25 years, inaugurated the festival by releasing pigeons.

The Festival Started with the ‘National Anthem’ by the Workers of Fakir Apparels Ltd.

The BKMEA announced a holiday for all the knitwear workers on Friday to patronize their participation in the festival. Workers’ from Narayanganj, Dhaka, Savar, Gazipur and other garments clusters joined the festival.  The roads adjacent to the Osmani Stadium remained congested for the whole day as thousands of workers, male and female, with colored banners and festoons marched towards the first festival of its kind since early morning. Several thousands of workers were seen standing outside the stadium as they failed to accommodate them. A large stage was built at the south-east side of the stadium where various amusement programs, including song, dance, drama, jokes were performed by workers.

“Dress as you Like Competition” by Workers

The workers also flocked to the outer stadium premise where different entertainment events including puppet show, bioscope and monkey dance were arranged. The fair also included training programs and awareness raising sessions for the workers. Organizations such as Karmajibi Nari, Phulki, Fire Brigade, etc. had stalls at the fair which the workers visited. The BKMEA also organized a competition of ‘Dress as you like’ and raffle draw for the workers.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Honorable Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Education attended the closing ceremony of the fair. The winners received prizes from the Adviser. Artist Momtaz and Bari Siddique rendered various popular songs at the end of the program. BKMEA distributed 50,000 gift boxes among the participating workers.

Winners of ‘different competitions received ‘Color TV’ from the Adviser and BKMEA President

Reaction of workers: Ayesha Khatun, worker of Fakir Apparels said, “I am happy to be present at the festival that was really enjoyable. It is still unbelievable that such type of programme was arranged for the poor like us”.  Selina Khatun, worker of Metro Garments, and Shefali of Model D Capital Garments, requested the organizers for arranging such festival every year.