Reaffirming her government's commitment to provide all possible cooperation in ensuring safety in workplaces, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said it is the responsibility of all to uphold the reputation of Bangladesh's apparel industry earned through public-private initiatives, reports UNB.

"Bangladesh's apparel industry has earned global appreciation through public-private initiatives. It's the responsibility of all to uphold the goodwill," she said while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on 'Positioning Bangladesh: Branding for Bangladesh' at a city hotel.

Hasina also urged all, including the owners, officials and workers, to remain alert against the recurrence of tragic incident like the recent Ashulia factory fire in which a good number of workers died.

Mentioning that the goodwill earned through rigorous efforts over a long period can be destroyed within a moment because of the negligence or a minor fault, she said adding, "There must not be minimum compromise in this regard."

Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Business Initiative Leading Development, Katalyst and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Service (BASIS) jointly organised the international conference.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Commerce Minister GM Quader, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Urs Herren, spoke on the occasion, while DCCI president Asif Ibrahim delivered the welcome address.

The Prime Minister said the private sector will have to play an important role in accelerating industrialisation, and business and commerce adding, "There're many resources to project Bangladesh's positive image before the world. But, I think branding Bangladesh through business and commerce is the most effective one."

Noting that branding can play an important role to introducing Bangladesh's communal harmony and democracy-loving people to the world community, she also underscored the need for projecting country' s thousands years of culture and heritage, and rich nature across the world.

Stressing the need for conducting a proper research for chalking out the country's prospective areas and their proper projection, Hasina also urged the private sector to come forward to supplement the government efforts in this regard.

She said the country's image at the global stage is extremely important for its prosperity, which is strongly correlated with its relationship, trade and other engagements with the rest of the world.