On December 4, 2023, in honor of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, the Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) and the CSR Centre, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, orchestrated a powerful CEO Forum titled “Build the Nation through Accessible & Inclusive Employment Opportunities.” The event unfolded at the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Office, Police Plaza Concord.
The CEO Forum, a beacon of commitment to the principle of “leave no one behind,” aimed to foster dialogue among corporate leaders. The objective was clear – to create an environment conducive to persons with disabilities and drive positive change towards a more inclusive society. The focus was on making companies welcoming to all, emphasizing the accessibility of various types of infrastructure within society at large.
Distinguished attendees included prominent figures such as Rupali Chowdhury, Managing Director of Berger Paints; Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, Trustee of BBDN; Dr. Md. Mafizur Rahman, Managing Director of SME Foundation; Shamarukh Fakhruddin, Director of Urmi Group; Tahsinah Ahmed, Executive Director of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC); Constantinos S. Gavriel, General Manager at Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts – Marriott International; Karin Jongman, Hotel Manager at Le Méridien Dhaka; Samia Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of MTB Foundation; Tushar Tripathi, CEO of Envoy Textiles; Sohel Tanvir Khan, Business Director of ACI Logistics Ltd (Shwapno); Akik Ahmed, Manager at Green Delta Insurance Limited, as per a media release.
The CEO Forum served as a pivotal platform to harness the collective wisdom, expertise, and commitment of CEOs and industry leaders towards creating a more inclusive society in Bangladesh. Murteza Khan, CEO of BBDN, welcomed the audience with insightful remarks, emphasizing the event’s objective to spotlight the crucial relationship between employment and the accessibility of infrastructure.
Dr. Priyanka Kochhar presented a keynote on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the pivotal role of the private sector in creating accessible employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, within the context of developing sustainable cities. Shahamin Zaman, CEO of CSR Centre, in her vote of thanks, underscored the necessity of public-private partnerships in achieving the most desirable SDGs.
This CEO Forum exemplifies a collaborative effort towards a future where every individual, regardless of ability, can contribute to and benefit from a truly inclusive society.