The government has emphasised the need to establish a Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) for Bangladesh’s tannery sector to enhance social dialogue and support sustainable growth in one of the country’s key export industries.
The proposal was discussed at a roundtable titled Status Quo of the Tannery Sector in Bangladesh, organised by the Leather Development Forum (LDF) in Dhaka, according to a press release. The event brought together senior government officials, development partners, employers, workers, and civil society representatives to assess the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
Md Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, called for the development of a Sector Development Strategic Plan to guide the future of the tannery industry. He said the plan should be created collectively by all relevant stakeholders and noted that, once in place, it would serve as the basis for future government initiatives.
Omar Md Imrul Mohsin, Inspector General (Additional Secretary) of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), stated that forming a Tripartite Consultative Council remained one of the government’s top priorities. He explained that the council would create a formal platform for dialogue between workers, employers, and government representatives to promote decent work, address policy gaps, and strengthen compliance across the industry.
Matiur Rahman, Project Director and Joint Inspector General of DIFE, presented a report on Turkey’s tannery sector and shared insights from his recent visit there.
Participants discussed key issues such as environmental compliance, occupational safety, workers’ welfare, and supply chain sustainability. They also underscored the need to enhance regulatory oversight and improve global competitiveness in line with international environmental and social benchmarks.
The event concluded with a collective call for deeper collaboration among government agencies, industry stakeholders, and development partners to make Bangladesh’s tannery sector more sustainable, transparent, and internationally competitive.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
