Bangladesh leads 74-nation ILO democratization drive

Bangladesh has taken a leading role in the democratization process of the International Labour Organization (ILO), representing a coalition of 74 countries during the 356th session of the ILO Governing Body.

Acting as the spokesperson for a diverse group of nations across South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva raised a powerful demand for the democratization of the ILO, the United Nations, and other international organizations, said a press release on Friday.

As the leader of this 74-nation bloc, Bangladesh strongly advocated for the abolition of the 10 undemocratic permanent seats currently held in the ILO Governing Body, reports BSS.

The mission called for the immediate initiation of legal processes to ensure that all members are elected through democratic methods.

This initiative builds on previous efforts by the Bangladesh Permanent Mission in March 2025, when it successfully moved to include these reform discussions on the official agenda through a unanimous decision.

During the current session, Bangladesh demanded a legal overhaul of the system that has allowed certain countries to enjoy voting rights and other privileges for the past 43 years without being elected as permanent members.

Out of the 187 member states of the ILO, 74 countries officially supported Bangladesh’s position during the session held on Thursday.

Following extensive deliberations, the proposal spearheaded by Bangladesh was accepted by consensus among the representatives of employers, workers, and all participating governments. Counselor Fazle Lohani delivered the statement on behalf of the Permanent Mission, representing the 74-country coalition as their designated spokesperson.