Two-day workshop on Leadership and Rights for tea garden women workers

The two-day workshop on Leadership and Rights for tea garden women workers, organized by ECDO in collaboration with Oxfam in Bangladesh and co-funded by the European Union (EU), took place on May 16–17, 2025, in Sylhet city. The event aimed to train women tea workers with leadership skills and legal knowledge by which they can empower themselves.   The event began with a welcome speech by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO. Workshop sessions were conducted by Moni Paul, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Shajalal University of Science and Technology, Abul Kashem, Associate professor, Department of Social Work, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Advocate Emad Ullah Shahidul Islam, former President of the Sylhet District Bar Association and Khadeja Akter Antora,Program Officer, Oxfam.   During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions on various topics, including legal rights, human rights, problem-solving, effective communication, team building, leadership development, decision-making, planning, gender-based violence, and relevant labor laws such as the Labor Act, 2006, Tea Act, 2016, and the Bangladesh Tea Workers Welfare Fund Act, 2016.The workshop resulted in enhanced awareness of rights, improved leadership and communication skills, better decision-making abilities, and increased understanding of labor laws. Participants expressed a commitment to using their knowledge to advocate for better working conditions. A final assessment was conducted to measure their learning outcomes from the whole session where they participated enthusiastically and actively.   The event concluded with a speech by Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Executive Director of ECDO, encouraging participants to apply their knowledge and contribute to positive change in their communities.