A visit to Tarasima Apparels bridges classroom and factory
On 6th December, a group of students from the Department of Economics and Social Sciences (ESS) stepped into Tarasima Apparels Limited factory on a day-long educational trip to analyse the world of ready-made garments firsthand. The field visit was arranged by Dr Shahidur Rahman (Professor, ESS) for the course ANT330/SOC330/DEV304: Anthropology/Sociology of Development.
The factory, located in Manikganj, is owned by BITOPI Group and recognised for being one of the highest-scoring Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified factories in Bangladesh. Students were educated on the intricate processes of the environmental policies Tarasima had adopted. The company implemented water recycling and wastewater treatment, using rainwater harvest plants, effluent treatment plants and a condensate recovery system.
Employees in different administrative roles educated the students on the essential details of human resources management, such as the grievance channels for employees and locals, production incentive bonuses, opportunities for higher education, daycare and a subsidised grocery shop.
The students were given a tour of the factory, showing almost all the production lines. The production lines included fabric cutting, sewing every part, quality control, and design using laser machines, embroidery machines or wash machines. The students were also shown the automation machines used in the production line and the changes they brought. One of the students, Nadya Tamrin (Senior, ESS), remarked, “I was struck by the speed at which the garment workers’ fingers moved, almost as fast as a machine. I realised how a single cutting machine could replace an entire row of 65 workers.”
Finally, the managers of the factory discussed the importance of the industry in Bangladesh and the lack of skilled human capital in the corporate positions.
Dr Rahman stated, “There is a gap between the academia and the garment industry that led to young graduates shying away from the roles.”
Despite existing challenges in the garment industry, skilled graduates play a key role in fostering positive change in ethical governance.
