DHAKA, Sep 29, 2021 (BSS) - The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of 
Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin today called for 
formation of a safety cell in Bangladesh Development Authority (BIDA) to 
facilitate safe working environment. 

   The FBCCI President made the call at a briefing on monitoring and 
inspection methods and checklists of all industrial factories held at the 
FBCCI office this morning. 

   In a video message broadcasted in the program, he said that the safety of 
the factories has to be licensed from many agencies and departments.  

   Jashim said a one-stop service by setting up a safety cell at BIDA will 
reduce harassment of entrepreneurs and facilitate a safe working environment. 
He also called upon all traders to cooperate in the factory monitoring 
activities which starts in October, said a press release. 

   In line with this, the Industry Safety Survey starts in mid-October.  

   Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Senior Vice President, FBCCI said, "We've 
spent some fund on the safety reform process, and the country's export-
oriented garment industry is reaping the benefits. Like RMG, the FBCCI is 
working with BIDA to secure non-RMG sectors of the country," 

   He said only owners are blamed if there is an accident at the factory. 
But, the license issuing authorities must also be brought under 
accountability.  

   Referring to the Nimtali fire incident, he said, "As promised, had there 
been a separate chemical village, there would not have been a fire accident 
in Churihatta."  

   Mostofa Azad also assured that the FBCCI would take steps to eliminate the 
tariff inequality between the export-oriented industry and other industries 
in importing safety equipment. 

   M A Momen, Vice President, FBCCI presided over the briefing session. 
"Entrepreneurs have nothing to fear from the inspection checklist," 

   The FBCCI has partnered with the initiative to help industrialists. "If 
this step is successful, all industries in the country will be as safe as 
ready-made garments which will increase the image of Bangladesh abroad, will 
help get foreign investment."    

   "Country's industrial progress has been informal so far" FBCCI Vice 
President Md Amin Helaly said. "Now it's high time to ensure a safe working 
environment in all industries." He added.  

  FBCCI vice-president Md Habib Ullah Don called for issuing Certificates to 
the factories who would qualify for ensuring the safety measures in the 
integrated monitoring program.   

  Earlier, Abhijit Chowdhury, Executive Member, BIDA, assured the 
entrepreneurs that the main purpose of the initiative is to create awareness 
about safe working environment. "No one will be harassed in any way."   

   Lt Col Zulfiqar Rahman, director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense, 
said no businessman would be caught through the program. "Rather, sector-wise 
action plans will be adopted at the entrepreneur, association and government 
level to make the factories safer by sorting out the information obtained 
through observation."   

   Three presentations on the context and method of factory inspection and 
monitoring, sector-wise priority list and checklist were presented at the 
event.   

   The presentation mentions that 32 sectors have been given priority in 
terms of accidents and risks. A total of 46,100 factories will be covered 
under the public-private sector coordination inspection program.    

   However, the safety measures of 5,000 factories will be evaluated in the 
first three months. The concerned factory authorities will be informed three 
days before the inspection.   

   Brig General (Retd.) Engineer Ali Ahmed Khan, President of the Safety 
Awareness Foundation, gave a detailed presentation on the priority industries 
in the presentation of the 2nd episode.   

   In the 3rd episode, Md Golam Kibria, Founder and CEO of IOTA Consulting BD 
and a member of the Safety Awareness Foundation, informed about the checklist 
of the items to be checked and selected during the inspection and monitoring 
activities.   

   In an open discussion, the FBCCI directors called for no unnecessary 
harassment in the name of factory inspections. At the same time, they 
recommended a reduction in the tariff structure and market prices of security 
items.