Apparel leaders to donate over 0.3m dress sets

FE Report
Leaders of the country's apparel sector are set to donate more than 300,000 sets of school dresses under a pilot programme aligned with the government's election pledge to provide free uniforms, shoes and jute bags to primary school students, according to ministry sources.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj told The FE that the government finalised the design of the school dress at a meeting with industry leaders at the Secretariat last week.
He expressed hope that the programme would be implemented by July.
Initially, one set of school uniform, a pair of shoes and a jute  bag will be distributed to Class-I students of two government primary schools in each upazila across the country, ministry sources said.
Talking to The FE, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Mohammad Hatem said apparel leaders pledged support for the pilot programme during a recent meeting with the Prime Minister as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments.
However, the exact number of dress sets to be donated is yet to be finalised, he said, adding that a decision will be taken at the association's next board meeting.
Ministry sources said the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) have each pledged to provide 100,000 sets of dresses and shoes, while the Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association has committed to supplying 50,000 sets.
Earlier at a press briefing, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said, "Our programme will become visible within the next 180 days. It will gradually be expanded to cover all government primary schools across the country and later extended to madrasa and ebtedayi students."
At present, the government provides free textbooks, stipends and mid-day meals to primary school students.
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