Trade expo on building, fire safety begins today

The two-day international trade expo for building and fire safety will kick off today (Sunday) to display proper safety products and services under one roof. It aims at improving and ensuring workplace safety in the country's readymade garment (RMG) industry.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety with support from the Accord, IFC, C&A Foundation and Elevate have organised the expo at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

"The expo, first of its kind, will provide a unique opportunity to bring the industry together with key products, services and technical partners to improve the situation," BGMEA President Md Atiqul lslam said at a press briefing held Saturday at the association's headquarters in the city.

The garment factory assessment by western buyers and governments has already started and there will be remedial plan to improve the workplace condition, he said. Many safety-related equipment, products and services will also be required, he said.

The expo will bring together building and fire safety products and service companies to showcase proper building, fire and electrical safety equipment like fire doors and sprinklers, he added.

M Rabin, managing director of the Alliance said the fair will show right kind of products that will help remediation expected to be suggested after the factory inspection.

There will also series of seminars/ workshops related to fire, electrical and building safety to share expertise and technical knowledge, organisers said.

A total of 52 stalls will display safety-related products during the display which will end Monday.

BGMEA vice presidents Shahidullah Azim and Reaz-Bin-Mahmood, among others, were also present during the briefing.