Diplomatic Desk:
On Sunday (May 24, 2026), ILO (International Labour Organization) Country Director in Bangladesh and ILO delegation met with Chittagong Hill Tracts Minister Dipen Dewan in the office room of the Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. Present at the meeting were Secretary of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Additional Secretary Md. Monirul Islam, ILO Senior Program Officer ANM Tanzel Ahsan and Alexius Chikam.
During the meeting, the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister said that the bilateral issues proposed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts will play a very positive role in improving the overall quality of life of the people of the hill region. In line with the election manifesto and promises of the current Bangladesh government, the government is committed to sustainable development of the people of the hilly region, poverty alleviation, addressing the risks of climate change and employment generation. The Minister further mentioned that if the three Hilly Region District Councils are newly restructured, it will be possible to implement these public welfare works of the ILO more dynamically in coordination with the three District Councils. Thanking the ILO delegation on behalf of the Bangladesh government for all the activities implemented in the past, the Minister called for more intensive work in the future to increase the skills of the people of this region of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, protect agriculture and livelihoods.
As part of the future plan, special emphasis will be placed on developing climate-resilient livelihoods in the hilly region, protecting the environment, expanding modern technology-based agricultural systems, improving health and nutrition, and supporting entrepreneurship for women, according to the election manifesto of the current government. The delegation expressed its hope that the ILO looks forward to further strengthening its strategic partnership and coordination with the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs to create social justice and decent work opportunities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, in line with national priorities and international commitments.
