NARAYANGANJ, Feb 6, 2023 (BSS) -Belgium's Queen Mathilde Marie Christine today visited knit composite manufacturing company Fakir Apparels Limited in the district.

The Belgium's Queen is now on a three-day visit to Bangladesh in her capacity as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) advocate.

Queen Mathilde reached Fakir Apparels around 2pm. Correspondents of different European media accompanied the Queen during her visit. She visited the corporate building, production house, day-care centre and different parts of the factory.

Women workers of the factory Koli Begum and Mohsina gifted a t-shirt which was made at the production house to the Queen. Queen Mathilde talked with the workers with the help of an interpreter.  

About the conversation with the Queen, Koli Begum and Mohsina said the Queen wanted to know about the work environment of the factory. 

They apprised the Queen that the work environment is very good at the factory as the workers don't face any problem and they get salary, bonus and other facilities in due time.

They said female workers of the factory get full salary during their leave for pregnancy period as well as they get treatment facilities during pregnancy. Female workers also get day-care facilities for children at the factory, they said. 

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Mohammad Hatem, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan, Fakir Apparels Managing Director Fakir Moniruzzaman, DMD Nafijuzzaman, Directors Fakir Rafsanuzzaman and Munjarin Jaman were present, among others, during the visit of the Queen. 
 
Describing the Queen's visit as a positive thing for the garment industries, BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem said her visit made a big contribution to branding of Bangladeshi garment factories. 

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said the Queen became happy after knowing and witnessing the facilities of the workers specially women workers through her visit to Fakir Apparels.