Chattogram Bureau 

An orientation and view-exchange meeting was held at the Asian SR Hotel on Station Road in Chattogram on Saturday to ensure easy and effective access to valid National Identity Card (NID) services for ready-made garment (RMG) workers.

The program was organized under the project titled "Odhikar – Awareness Drive for Obtaining Valid NID for RMG Workers," implemented jointly by the non-governmental organization Shompshoptok, GIZ, and ActionAid Bangladesh. Factory managers and representatives from various RMG units participated in the session.

Additional Regional Election Commissioner Mohammad Sakawat Hossain attended the event as the chief guest. GIZ Advisor (Knowledge Management) Nakib Rajib Ahmed, ActionAid Bangladesh Deputy Manager Mohammad Maruf Hossain, and Thana Election Officer Md. Ariful Islam were present as special guests, alongside Shompshoptok Director Agrodut Das Gupta. Shompshoptok Assistant Director (Gender Mainstreaming and Safeguarding) Zainab Begum Chowdhury moderated the session.

In his welcome address, Shompshoptok Chief Executive Liton Chowdhury stated that a valid NID is not just a tool for citizenship recognition, but an essential requirement for accessing social safety net programs, financial inclusion, and various public and private services. Therefore, ensuring valid NIDs for garment workers is a crucial necessity.

Later, ActionAid Bangladesh Deputy Manager Mohammad Maruf Hossain delivered a presentation outlining the core objectives, activities, and expected outcomes of the "Odhikar" project. He detailed various initiatives aimed at raising NID awareness among workers, offering necessary guidance, and removing barriers to accessing registration services.

Highlighting the link between social security and official identity, GIZ Advisor Nakib Rajib Ahmed noted that a valid NID has become indispensable for almost all types of government services and social protection schemes. Bringing RMG workers under this coverage is a significant step toward achieving social inclusion, he added.

During the open discussion, factory managers shared real-world challenges faced by workers, including complications with birth registration certificates, data correction errors, address mismatches, and a lack of required supporting documents. Responding to their queries, Thana Election Officer Md. Ariful Islam provided detailed information regarding NID applications, corrections, and re-issuance procedures.

Addressing the meeting, chief guest Mohammad Sakawat Hossain underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among government bodies, development partners, and factory authorities to ensure valid NIDs for all garment workers. He assured that the Election Commission would extend all necessary cooperation to expand worker-friendly services.

Speakers at the seminar concluded that since the RMG sector is the backbone of the country's economy, safeguarding the civic rights of its workers is paramount. Ensuring valid NIDs will enable workers to seamlessly access healthcare, banking services, and other state-sponsored benefits.