BRAC University launched the beta version of a digital map containing information on export-oriented readymade garment factories across the Dhaka district of Bangladesh.
Honorable Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP officially inaugurated the map at a program held at Apparel Club of BGMEA Complex on 9 February.
BGMEA President Md. Siddiqur Rahman, FBCCI President Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), Inspector General of DIFE Md. Shamsuzzaman Bhuiyan, Adviser of CED-BRACU Prof. Dr. Rahim B. Talukdar, and First Vice President of BKMEA Mansoor Ahmed were present on the occasion.
Led by BRAC University, with lead funding from C&A Foundation and support from BGMEA, and BRAC USA Mapped in Bangladesh has collected essential primary data on export-oriented factories across the Dhaka district and published it online in an interactive, digital map.
The public database maps factory names, GPS location, postal address, number of workers, products, export countries, brands and buyers, and memberships, affiliations, and certifications. Data updates will be crowdsourced to the public and then verified to ensure that information remains current.
The initiative has also forged strategic partnerships with BKMEA and received support from the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Labor and Employment.
An expanded map, incorporating factories from across the country, is expected to be completed in 2021.