Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury. File photo

DHAKA, June 5, 2026 (BSS) - Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury is leaving 
the country tonight for Geneva to attend the 114th International Labour 
Conference.

The global conference, being held from June 1 to 12 this year, is bringing 
together around 5,000 representatives of governments, employers and workers 
from 187 countries.

Representatives of Bangladesh are scheduled to address the main session of 
the conference on June 8. 

Labour Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury will discuss important issues 
including the labour situation in Bangladesh, workers' rights, social justice 
and employment.

His speech is also expected to highlight the recently passed Labour 
(Amendment) Act, 2026 and Bangladesh's progress in ensuring workers' rights, 
according to PID handout.

Apart from the main conference proceedings, the minister is likely to hold 
ministerial-level sideline meetings with the Director-General of the 
International Labour Organization (ILO), the Director-General of the OIC 
Labour Centre, and representatives of several countries, including South 
Korea.

In addition to the minister, a six-member delegation representing the 
Bangladesh government, including Labour ministry's Secretary Md. Abdur Rahman 
Tarafdar, is participating in the conference.

Representing the employers' side, nine delegates will attend the conference, 
including President of the Bangladesh Employers' Federation Fazle Shamim 
Ehsan, President of BGMEA Mahmud Hasan Khan, and President of BKMEA Md. 
Hatem.

The 11-member workers' delegation is being led by Chief Coordinator of the 
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal and Member of Parliament from Pabna-5 
constituency Md. Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas.