The people of Bangladesh were shocked at the suspension of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) privileges for the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told an influential United States Congressman on Tuesday. Ranking Member of the US House Ways and Means Committee Sander Levin, accompanied by his wife, met with the Prime Minister at her office and discussed different issues.
“Congressman Levin asked the Prime Minister what’s her impression about Bangladesh-US relationship. She replied: Everything was going on well. But, our people were shocked at the GSP suspension,” a meeting source told The Independent.
According to BSS, the national news agency, the Prime Minister hoped that good actions would reinstate GSP facilities by the US Trade Representative by December this year.
Congressman Levin said to the Prime Minister that the fire at Tazreen Fashion and the tragedy at Rana Plaza might have contributed to the suspension of the trade benefits, informed the meeting source. The US lawmaker conveyed to the Prime Minister that GSP suspension was not a punitive measure, rather an opportunity to work together to address the issues relating to the RMG sector, said Director general (Americas) of the Foreign Ministry Mahfuzur Rahman, who was present at the meeting.
“It’s not an anti-Bangladesh measure. Our workers do not want Bangladeshi workers to suffer due to GSP suspension,” he quoted Levin as saying.
The meeting source also said that the Prime Minister had apprised Levin about paying compensation to the Rana Plaza victims. The Congressman was informed that so far about 750 victims had been given compensation.
“Levin said that he had met three people injured in the Rana Plaza tragedy and they did not yet get any compensation,” he said, adding, “In reply, the PM said there might be delay in some cases due to the verification process.”
“The Congressman said that in the globalised world Bangladesh’s RMG is part of the international trade. Therefore, everyone including the US retailers has responsibility in this regard,” said the source. Levin also met with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the state guest house Padma.
During the meeting Congressman Levin opined that in the current globalized world all concerned has shared responsibility to overcome any difficulties. He also stressed the responsibility of the US retailers in revamping the RMG sector of Bangladesh, said a Foreign Ministry press release.
The Foreign Minister described at length about the initiatives taken by the government to mitigate the sufferings of the Rana Plaza victims. She also mentioned about the various steps taken by the Government to ensure work place safety and labour rights in Bangladesh, particularly the commitment of the
government in amendment of the labour law.
Earlier, Congressman Levin had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed and Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar where the three secretaries briefed him about the initiatives taken by the government to resolve the problems in the RMG sector.
-With The Independent input
