BKMEA has been running the Nutrition of Working Women (NoWW) Project in collaboration with National Nutrition Service (NNS) and Nutrition International (NI) since 2019 to eliminate anemia and raise health awareness among women workers in the knitwear sector in Bangladesh. A MoU has been signed between BKMEA, NSS and NI to extend the project’s duration up to March 2027. It was signed by BKMEA Vice President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, NNS Country Director Abdul Mannan and NI President Joel Spicer.

The program held on 20 February 2023 at the hotel intercontinental. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP, Honorable Speaker of Bangladesh National Parliament participated was present on the program as the Chief Guest. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce was the special guest. BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem chaired the event.

The chief guest said, in our country, more than 46 percent of women aged 15-49 suffer from anemia. In that context, the Nutrition of Working Women project is a timely step. The project has laid emphasis on issues like elimination of anemia and hygiene which was not seen before. BKMEA has created an unprecedented example through this project.

So far 116 knit factories have worked under the Nutrition of Working Women project. Under this, 1 crore 6 thousand 283 iron and folic acid tablets are provided among 2 lakh 20 thousand women knit workers.

Highlighting the importance of the project, Executive President of BKMEA Mohammad Hatem said that the way BKMEA has contributed to the success of the project will continue in the future. Through this, he expressed hope that the knit industry will take a step forward in sustainable production system.

For nearly 30 years, Nutrition International has been working to reduce malnutrition rates in Bangladesh. By maintaining this continuity, NI has become a trusted partner of Bangladesh, said Joel Spicer, President and CEO, Nutrition International.

Dr. Brend Spanier, Charge the affairs EU Delegation to Bangladesh was present the program. Factory owners, managers and workers of various factories were also present on the occasion.