Business Desk
To help maintain productivity, skill, and quality standards in Bangladesh’s leather, leather goods, and footwear industry, international social enterprise VisionSpring has signed an agreement with the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB).
Under this agreement, 5,000 workers from 188 factories across the country will receive free vision screening and access to affordable eyeglasses.
At the signing ceremony, LFMEAB was represented by Director and Managing Director of Austan Ltd, IbnulWara; Secretary General Major Md. Rafiqul Islam (Retd.); AGM Sharif NowrinAkter; and Chief Operating Officer of Austan Ltd, Araf Habib.
Representing VisionSpring were Country Director Misha Mahjabeen; Resource Mobilization Lead Ashna Afroze Ahmed; and Senior Manager of the Vision Access Program, Umme Sauda.
Stakeholders emphasized that this is not merely a formal agreement but a clear commitment to prioritizing worker welfare and safety. By addressing and correcting vision problems, workers will be able to perform their tasks more efficiently and safely, ultimately strengthening the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s leather sector.
The initiative, which began on 28 February 2026, will continue through 31 December 2026. In the first phase, eye screening activities have already commenced at AustanLtd’sfactory.
