Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid today addressed a dialogue on Convention 190 related to violence and harassment at the workplace at a city hotel. Photo: PID

DHAKA, May 6, 2025 (BSS) - Adviser to the Ministries of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs, Sharmeen S Murshid, today said there is no alternative to standing beside the women of the country to prevent violence and repression against them and to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh.

"The interim government is committed not just in words but in action, ensuring women's safety, a secure working atmosphere, and their empowerment," she said.

In this regard, Sharmeen said the ILO Convention 190 is aligned with Bangladesh's commitment to ensuring gender equality and addressing gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace.

The Women and Children Affairs Adviser was addressing a dialogue on Convention 190 related to violence and harassment at the workplace jointly organised by the Trade Union International Labour Standards Committee and the ILO Bangladesh Country Office at a city hotel.

Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman, ILO Country Director Tuomo Poutiainen, Women Affairs Reform Commission Chief Shirin Parvin Haque, Trade Union International Labour Standard Committee member Chowdhury Ashikul Alam, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Syed Sultan Ahmed, among others, were present on the occasion, said a press release of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs.

Mentioning that it would be possible to make the womenfolk more active if safety, security and protection could be ensured to them, the adviser said that they would remain accountable before the nation if they could not ensure a safe environment for the women.

She said that the Ministry of Labour and Employment has been working to amend the Labour Law side by side with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs has been working to prevent all kinds of sexual harassment against the women.

Sharmeen said, "We will think afresh in a new Bangladesh where the women will be given equal opportunity in the workplace... Our laws will be more strengthened while our accountability will increase more, and hopefully we'll build a new Bangladesh with united efforts from all," she added.