Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday advocated for increased private sector involvement in social and humanitarian causes, emphasizing that joint efforts can resolve major national challenges.

“As members of society, if everyone comes forward and contributes in their own way, many major problems can be solved,” the Prime Minister remarked during the launch of a distribution initiative aimed at providing 20,000 raincoats to tea plantation laborers in the Sylhet division.

According to a press statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, Tarique Rahman formally presented raincoats to 10 tea garden workers during a ceremony at his Secretariat office, where he inquired about their daily lives and engaged in an open exchange of views.

Organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare, the campaign aims to safeguard tea workers across Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Habiganj districts against adverse weather conditions while fostering a safer working environment.

Out of the total 20,000 raincoats designated for distribution, the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) is contributing 10,000 units under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework, while Chevron Bangladesh and Pandughar Group are supplying 5,000 units each.

Assuring private enterprises of government assistance in carrying out social and humanitarian endeavors, the Prime Minister affirmed that the administration would stand beside organizations eager to perform such work and extend all necessary cooperation.

Corporate representatives in attendance noted that aiding working-class and disadvantaged populations forms a core component of their societal duty alongside standard commercial operations. They expressed willingness to continue partnering with the government to improve the living conditions and work environments of tea garden workers and other underprivileged groups.

On behalf of the tea labor community, the participating workers expressed their deep appreciation to the Prime Minister, the government, and the donor entities. Symbolizing this gratitude, Santuki Roy of Majdihi Tea Garden presented the Prime Minister with fresh tea leaves.

The ten tea workers participating in the event were Shanti Uriya of Kalighat Tea Garden, Munni Kurmi of Makrichhara Tea Garden, Jyotsna Akter of Bharawra Tea Garden, Rina Tanti and Sashika Banerjee of Rajghat Tea Garden, Santuki Roy of Majdihi Tea Garden, Kabita Karmakar of Phulbari Tea Garden, Sujata Biswas of Madhabpur Tea Garden, Rita Rani Bauri of Uttar Alinagar, and Afkhatun Nahar of Patrakhola Tea Garden.

The ceremony was attended by Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Commerce, Industries and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin.

Members of Parliament Imran Ahmad Choudhury, Nasir Uddin Mithu, Md Shawkatul Islam, M Naser Rahman, Haji Mujibur Rahman Choudhury, Md GK Gaus, and SM Faisal were also present.

Private sector figures in attendance included BAPI Senior Vice-President and Unimed and Unihealth Managing Director Mosaddek Hossain, BAPI Adviser and Square Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury, BAPI Executive Committee Member and SKF Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Miz Simin Rahman, BAPI Executive Director Md Saiful Islam, Chevron Bangladesh Director for Corporate Affairs Md Imrul Kabir, Director of Operations Ashiq Shehzad Rahman, Head of Community Engagement AKM Arif Akhtar, and Pandughar Group Chief of People and Corporate Affairs Golam Habib.