Experts, exporters fear
Experts and exporters fear that the European Union might take negative decision on the trade facilities Bangladesh is enjoying now in the European market in the review in July next year due to the ongoing political violence and threat to democratic process in the country.
Besides, experts said, the persistent political unrest which was disrupting the supply chain and progress of works related to work place safety and workers rights might prompt the EU to take the same course of action taken by the US in suspending generalised system of preferences.
The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and its decision of not to send observers for the upcoming 10th national parliamentary polls on January 5 is a bad signal to the country, they said.
‘The EU has not yet announced any decision about whether it will curtail the facilities Bangladesh is enjoying now. But, if the EU thinks that the country has failed to ensure basic criteria of democracy, it may suspend the generalised system of preferences facilities for the Bangladesh products in the European market,’ Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Mustafizur Rahman told New Age on Tuesday.
-With New Age input
