The International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) organized the roundtable, which was attended by Charles Whiteley, EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh, as the chief guest. The meeting was presided over by IBFB President Humayun Rashid.
EU Deputy Chief of Mission, Bernd Spanier delivered the keynote address, while Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Farooq Hasan, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President M Hatem, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) IBFB President Mohammad Ali Khokon and IBFB Vice President MS Siddiqui were the discussants.
EU member states have drawn up a set of rules regarding human rights and the protection of the environment. Sanctions or huge fines can be imposed on anyone violating the rules, be it the manufacturer, buyer and brand.
Speaking at the roundtable, EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley said prepared due diligence is not just a matter of buyer and seller; Rather, it is for everyone involved in the supply chain. Due diligence includes child labour, forced labour, slavery, deforestation, ecosystem damage and human rights violations. This means that these are not just the interests of the EU, but global interests are linked to them.