The government is trying to ensure that no deaths will occur due to a lack of safety in workplaces in the country, said Syed Ahmed, inspector general of the Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishment (DIFE).

He said as a part of its effort, the government was recruiting more efficient officers to inspect and monitor factories and other business establishments, according to a press release.

Syed Ahmed was addressing the closing programme of a three-day international conference on environmental and occupational safety and health that ended in the capital on Monday.

The conference was inaugurated by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon with President of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Saber Hossain Chowdhury present as special guest.

Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, International Social Security Association (ISSA), Harvard School of Public Health, and Collegium Ramazzini organised the conference in BIAM Auditorium.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, present as the chief guest, expressed his commitment to provide any kind of necessary assistance to this end.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mujibul Haque said, "The government has already provided training to 1.6 million people on safety measures."

Dr AMM Anisul Awwal, joint secretary at the labour ministry, said the government was close to finalising a health insurance project for workers and employees.

The concluding day had three sessions. It began with a plenary session moderated by Dhaka University Professor Ahmed Kamal. There were three more speakers from ISSA who talked about industrial safety, among other issues.

After a short break, an open discussion conducted by Dr Quazi Quamruzzaman, chairman of Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, took place.

The speakers encouraged a healthy atmosphere at every workplace. They agreed that although Bangladesh is moving ahead in industrial development, hazardous incidents may undo the progress and worsen the situation.

Among others, Olaf Peterman, president of ISSA, Special Commission of Prevention; and Prof David Christiani, Harvard University, were present at the closing ceremony.