Focus Group Discussion (FGD) of Executive Development Center
Feb 16, 2026
The Executive Development Center (EDC), East West University, under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Program (SICIP), successfully organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on “Creating a Skilled Workforce Pipeline through SICIP for the Leather, Leather Goods, and Footwear Industries in Bangladesh” on January 31, 2026, at the East West University campus.
The FGD brought together stakeholders from academia, government, and industry to discuss workforce skill development and strategies to enhance the global competitiveness of Bangladesh’s leather sector. The session was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Tanbir Ahmed Chowdhury, Program Director, EDC-East West University, who emphasized the importance of industry-academia collaboration in developing a future-ready workforce.
Dr. Md. Matiur Rahman, Deputy Secretary & Assistant Executive Program Director, SICIP, Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, and academic institutions and stressed the importance of fair and competitive compensation to attract skilled professionals.
The FGD also featured participation from leading industry representatives who shared valuable insights into workforce challenges faced by the sector. Among them were Mr. Md. Wahedur Rahman, General Manager, Step Footwear; Mr. Sayed Tahmidul Haque Stalin, General Manager, Accenture Footwear and Leather Products Limited; Mr. Md. Habib-E-Elahi, General Manager (Business Development), Atlas Footwear Limited; Mr. Joy Chatterjee, Chief Operating Officer, Masud Footwear Industries Limited (MFIL); and Mr. Md. Mehedi Mahmud, General Manager (Operations), Sunwe Footwear Limited.
Industry representatives from leading footwear and leather manufacturing organizations shared concerns regarding the shortage of skilled manpower and emphasized the growing need for training in advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, ERP systems, Digital Inventory Management, and Modern Production Technologies.
Professor Dr. Anup Chowdhury, Deputy Director, EDC-East West University, highlighted EDC’s initiatives to bridge industry skill gaps through practical and industry-aligned training programs.
The event concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and develop a sustainable skilled workforce pipeline for Bangladesh’s leather, leather goods, and footwear industries.
