Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a programme to distribute 20,000 raincoats to tea garden workers in Bangladesh’s Sylhet division, supported by private-sector corporate social responsibility funds. The launch took place on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat, where he handed raincoats to 10 tea workers and inquired about their welfare.

According to assistant press secretary Gazi Shahriar Pamir, the Social Welfare Ministry initiated the programme to protect workers in tea gardens across Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts from adverse weather and help ensure safer working conditions. The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries will provide 10,000 raincoats, while Chevron Bangladesh and Pandughar Group will provide 5,000 each.

Rahman said major problems could be addressed if all members of society contributed in small ways, and pledged government support for private-sector humanitarian and social initiatives. Private-sector representatives said supporting disadvantaged and working people was part of their social responsibility and expressed interest in continuing such efforts with the government. Tea workers thanked the prime minister, the government and the contributing companies.