Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed urged the US to consider duty-free and quota-free market access of Bangladeshi apparels to US market as the initiative can further boost the ongoing progress of the RMG industry that has employed more than 3 million women in the sector.
The commerce minister made this appeal while holding meeting with the United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, Congressman Sander Levin, high officials from the Department of State as well as Department of Labour on Wednesday in Washington DC.
A press release received in Dhaka on Thursday from Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC said that during discussion with the officials of the US government, the commerce minister briefed them of the progress made in accordance with the US ‘Action Plan for Generalised System of Preferences’. The minister emphasised that taking into account the tremendous progress made in the last one year and a half it is time for Bangladesh to get the GSP benefit back.
During the meetings, Tofail also informed the US officials about the series of actions taken by the government of Sheikh Hasina to improve workers safety and labour rights in the RMG industry.
The series of actions included, among others, amendment of labour law, appointment of inspectors, comprehensive assessment of fire and building safety, adoption of National Occupational Safety and Health Policy 2013, launching better work programme, establishment of hotlines, reviewing the BEPZA Act and so on.
‘Due to extensive safety measures the industry has not witnessed any accident since the Rana Plaza incident,’ he mentioned. ‘With the directives of prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the government had meanwhile increased the minimum wage by 219 per cent in last four years,’ the minister informed the US officials during the meeting.
The government has waved duties on all fire safety equipment which will
encourage the owners to install fire fighting measures cost effectively, the minister added.
The commerce minister also rebuffed alleged reports of harassment and intimidation of the labour leaders in the RMG factories.
Tofail, however, highlighted that the support and assistance of private sector like BGMEA and BKMEA, ILO, Alliance, Accord and a number of western countries including the US was critical for the government in making substantial progress in a short period of time.
USTR ambassador Froman thanked the Bangladesh commerce minister for successful conclusion of TICFA. He acknowledged the progress Bangladesh has already made to improve the labour rights and factory safety in the RMG industry.
The USTR ambassador assured that the US support for Bangladesh’s RMG industry would continue. He said, ‘We want Bangladesh to succeed.’
The commerce minister also held meetings with US under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment Catherine A Novelli, assistant secretary of state for
south and central Asian affairs Nisha Desai Biswal and various retailers associations during his official visit to the US.
Under secretary Novelli mentioned that the umbrella programme for GSP is yet to be renewed and once renewed there may be opportunities for Bangladesh but in the meantime, she emphasised that, the remaining issues under the GSP Action Plan need to be addressed by Bangladesh.
During the meetings, the commerce minister was accompanied by charge d’affaires Muhammad A Muhith, commercial counsellor Md Shafiqul Islam of the Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC and director general of Fire Service and Civil Defence Department Brig General Ali Ahmed Khan.
Tofail is leading a delegation comprised of the private sector members including Jatiyo Sramik League president Sukur Mahmud, BGMEA president Md Atiqul Islam, BGMEA 1st vice-president Shahidullah Azim and BKMEA 1st vice-president Mohammaed Hatem.
The commerce minister will meet several important congressmen at the Hill and will head for New York on Thursday afternoon.
On 14 June, the commerce minister will participate in a seminar on Bangladesh’s garment sector at the Harvard University in Boston.
-With New Age input
