Workplace safety in Bangladesh
The law, regulator and duties that apply to workplaces in Bangladesh, in plain language, with links to the official sources.
Who regulates what
The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Its inspectors enforce health, safety, welfare and working conditions.
dife.gov.bd →Set up under s.323 of the Act and chaired by the Labour Minister. It shapes national OSH policy.
DIFE OSH publications →The law and key regulations
The consolidated Bengali text of the Act is on the government's Laws of Bangladesh site. The English translation there only runs to 2013, so it is out of date on reporting and penalties.
| Law | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (Act No. XLII of 2006) | Health, hygiene, safety and welfare (Chapters V to VIII), accident reporting, inspection and penalties. Explained |
| Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 (Act No. 43 of 2026) | Rewrote accident reporting, safety committees and penalties, and added the protection for workers who refuse dangerous work. |
| Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015 (amended 2022) | Safety committees, accident forms and timelines, building safety, hazardous work and construction rules. |
| Bangladesh National Building Code | Building safety and construction standards that the Labour Rules refer to. |
This is practical guidance, not legal advice. Check the current official text and your site's own procedures.
Official resources in Bengali
The law and DIFE's inspection material are published in Bengali. These are the official versions.
বাংলা (Bengali)
- বাংলাদেশ শ্রম আইন, ২০০৬The Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, consolidated text
- বাংলাদেশ শ্রম (সংশোধন) আইন, ২০২৬The 2026 amending Act
- বাংলাদেশ শ্রম বিধিমালা, ২০১৫The Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015, on DIFE's rules page
- পরিদর্শন চেকলিস্ট ও SOPDIFE inspection checklists (garment, construction, shipbreaking and more) and the accident investigation SOP
- অগ্নি, বিদ্যুৎ ও কাঠামোগত নিরাপত্তার চেকলিস্টFire, electrical and structural safety checklist
English
- The Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 (English)2015 Gazette translation; covers amendments up to 2013 only
