DHAKA (ILO News): Grand prize winners of a weekly radio quiz contest on workplace health and safety were announced today at a ceremony held at the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE). Inspector General of DIFE, Md. Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan and Deputy Director of ILO Bangladesh Mr. Gagan Rajbhandari handed over the prizes to four winners employed in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector.

The quiz contest was held as part of the ‘Safe Workplaces, Go ahead Bangladesh’ radio campaign carried out by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in collaboration with ILO’s readymade garment programme funded by Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Ms. Mansura Begum, Machine Operator at HNPRZ Group won the first prize of Tk 50,000, while runners up prizes of Tk 20,000 went to Mr. Shahjahan, Cutting Manager at Dekko Design Limited, Ms. Eva Islam, Machine Operator at CIUVIC and Ms. Lotifa Khatun, Welfare Officer at Mohammadi Fashion Sweaters Ltd.

Inspector General of DIFE, Md. Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan congratulated the winners. He said, “The RMG sector is a major driving force of our economy. Hence it is important that those involved in this sector have a good understanding about Occupational Safety and Health issues. Our labour inspectorate is committed to ensuring workplace safety through enhanced inspection and awareness campaigns.”

Launched in March 2017, the campaign raised awareness of basic OSH issues such as electrical safety, fire safety, earthquakes, good housekeeping and hygiene amongst RMG workers, supervisors and managers. A series of radio episodes and safety-related commercials and quizzes were broadcast on Dhaka FM 90.4 over a period of two months. In total, some 22,000 garment workers participated in the quiz contest.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Bangladesh, Mr. Gagan Rajbhandari said, “This campaign has contributed to our collective efforts to ultimately create a culture of Occupational Safety and Health in Bangladesh for all workers in every sector.”

At the prize giving ceremony, Ms. Moushumy Khan Anne, Radio Jockey at Dhaka FM presented the results of the radio-based campaign and quiz contest.

For more information please contact Onchita Shadman at the ILO on 01787 666761 / shadman@ilo.org or Steve Needham on Tel 01787 680995 or needham@ilo.org