MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY

My Journey, Our Commitment: Advancing Bangladesh’s Caregiving Industry Toward International Recognition

Abu Saleh Forkan

General Secretary

Caregiver Agency Owners Association of Bangladesh (CAOAB)

Founder & CEO, Israt Caregivers

From Human Understanding to a Commitment to Care

My professional journey has been shaped by a deep belief in the importance of compassion, dignity, and human connection. I believe that standing beside people during their most vulnerable moments is not merely a responsibility; it is a meaningful contribution to society.

An important chapter of my professional life began at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where I worked in the hospital’s Service Department. This experience gave me valuable insight into the challenges faced by patients and their families, particularly the emotional needs of elderly, sick, and lonely individuals.

I came to understand that medical treatment alone is not always enough. Many people also need companionship, emotional support, attentive care, and someone they can trust. I realized how important it is for a person experiencing loneliness or vulnerability to have someone by their side who listens, understands, and provides compassionate support.

This realization inspired me to begin my journey in the caregiving sector in 2013. My vision was to make reliable care accessible to people who needed it and to build a service that families could trust. Over time, this initiative grew beyond a business venture into a broader commitment to human welfare, professional skills development, and employment creation.

Our Achievements in Service, Training, and Employment

Throughout this journey, we have provided services to approximately 10,000 customers and trained approximately 15,000 individuals, contributing to skills development and creating pathways to employment in the caregiving sector.

Today, more than 300 people are employed by Israt Caregivers. Behind this achievement are individuals, livelihoods, and families whose financial well-being is connected to meaningful employment opportunities.

For me, these figures represent more than business growth. They reflect the value of investing in people, developing a skilled workforce, and creating opportunities for individuals to build better futures for themselves and their families.

I firmly believe that caregiving is much more than a profession. It is a field built on compassion, patience, competence, integrity, and responsibility. The quality of care, the professional development of caregivers, the safety of service recipients, and the trust of families must remain at the heart of everything we do.

My Vision as General Secretary of CAOAB

Serving as the General Secretary of the Caregiver Agency Owners Association of Bangladesh (CAOAB) is both an honour and a significant responsibility. It provides an opportunity to contribute not only through my own organization but also to the collective development of Bangladesh’s caregiving industry.

I believe that an industry can achieve sustainable progress when its stakeholders work together with unity, professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared vision. An association can play an important role in strengthening collaboration among caregiving agencies, promoting professional development, encouraging quality service delivery, and advocating for greater recognition of the sector.

Through CAOAB, I aspire to help build a collaborative environment where member agencies can exchange knowledge, address common challenges, adopt responsible practices, and work together to strengthen public confidence in caregiving services.

Our Goal for the Coming Year: International Recognition and Government Support

One of my key priorities is to take meaningful steps toward positioning Bangladesh’s caregiving industry for international recognition within the coming year. I also aim to work toward greater government-level cooperation, appropriate institutional recognition, and stronger policy support for the development of this important sector.

Bangladesh has significant potential to develop a skilled caregiving workforce, generate employment, and create opportunities for qualified professionals in international markets. Realizing this potential will require coordinated planning, quality training, recognized professional qualifications, and effective collaboration with relevant government and private-sector institutions.

With this vision in mind, I believe the following priorities deserve particular attention:

I recognize that international recognition cannot be achieved through declarations alone. It requires sustained effort, credible training systems, appropriate qualifications, compliance with relevant standards, and cooperation with international institutions and destination countries.

Through CAOAB, I hope to contribute to a more structured and coordinated approach toward these objectives while building constructive relationships with government bodies and other relevant stakeholders.

A Shared Commitment to the Future

Bangladesh’s caregiving industry has considerable potential, but realizing that potential requires a collective commitment to improving service quality, developing skilled professionals, creating sustainable employment, and strengthening public trust.

No individual or organization can accomplish these goals alone. Progress depends on the combined efforts of agency owners, caregivers, training institutions, government authorities, development partners, and the families who rely on caregiving services.

My professional journey has taught me that trust is the foundation of this industry. As General Secretary of CAOAB, I am committed to contributing to the development of a more professional, organized, accountable, and internationally competitive caregiving sector in Bangladesh.

Our ambition should extend beyond providing services. We should work toward a future in which families have access to dependable care, caregivers receive recognition for their skills and contributions, and Bangladesh’s trained workforce has greater opportunities to participate in international care markets.

I firmly believe that through strategic planning, professional integrity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to human dignity, Bangladesh can further strengthen its position as a source of skilled and responsible caregiving professionals.

Compassionate Care.  Skilled Professionals.  Meaningful Employment.  Professional Recognition. International Opportunity.

These are the principles that should guide our collective journey.

Let us work together to build a stronger future for Bangladesh’s caregiving industry—one where care is founded on trust, professional service is recognized with dignity, and progress is achieved through unity and shared responsibility.

Abu Saleh Forkan

General Secretary

Caregiver Agency Owners Association of Bangladesh (CAOAB)

Founder & CEO, Israt Caregivers