The 1st Coordination Meeting of the Bangladesh Social Protection Advocacy Network (BSPAN) was held on July 14, 2024, at the OSHE Foundation’s conference hall in Mirpur, Dhaka. The meeting, chaired by Repon Chowdhury, Member Secretary of BSPAN and Executive Director of the OSHE Foundation, focused on evaluating the successes of the previous year, strategizing for 2024, and enhancing the network’s visibility and impact. Participants discussed integrating social protection into political party manifestos, advocating amendments to key social protection clauses in Bangladesh Labour Law, and addressing the lack of worker representation in the draft National Pension Authority Act 2022 by submitting formal advocacy letters.The meeting emphasized organizing large-scale gatherings before mid-2024 to boost BSPAN’s visibility and proposed celebrations for World Aging Day on October 1, 2024, and International Human Rights Day through impactful demonstrations. Additionally, discussions under the EU call highlighted the need to incorporate social protection into green economy initiatives, raise awareness, and support just transitions for job losses. The network also prioritized alternative opportunities for migrant and domestic workers, data management for social protection, and targeted research.Further collaborative efforts included a decision for WSM to draft a proposal for member review and the selection of Repon Chowdhury to represent BSPAN at the INSPIR Asia level. The meeting concluded with a plan to hold the next Annual General Meeting on July 2, 2025, at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. These efforts reflect BSPAN’s commitment to advancing social protection through advocacy, collaboration, and strategic initiatives addressing critical worker rights and legislative reforms.
