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GSP withdrawal for Bangladesh under consideration: US

Admin — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 06:07:23 +0000

Decision on next steps by June
The United States on Thursday said withdrawal of Generalised System of Preferences facility for Bangladesh was under consideration and the decision on it would be announced by the end of June.
‘All options remain under consideration, including possible suspension, limitation or withdrawal of GSP benefits,’ said Lewis Karesh, who handles labour issues for the US Trade Representative’s office.
‘The administration will announce a decision on next steps in the GSP review of Bangladesh by the end of June,’ he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The US urged action by the Bangladesh authorities to improve labour rights following a massive factory collapse at Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka on April 24.
After a call by US unions, the Barack Obama’s administration in January launched a review on whether to keep Bangladesh in the GSP, which provides duty-free access for about 5,000 goods to the US.
The review was under way when Rana Plaza, an eight-storey garment factory, crumbled and killed 1,130 people, mostly garment workers, despite concerns expressed previously by workers over the building’s integrity.
Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the committee, sounded supportive on the suspension of Bangladesh. He noted that the GSP did not cover textiles, which were by far the South Asian nation’s largest export to the United States.
‘While only a small fraction of Bangladesh’s exports would be affected, given ongoing violations of the GSP workers’ right criteria, GSP suspension would send a strong signal that the United States is serious about protecting workers and improving workplace safety,’ Menendez said.
‘No one will want to wear a piece of clothing made in Bangladesh if it’s on the blood of workers,’ Menendez said.
But Robert Blake, the assistant secretary of state for South Asia, said that Bangladesh had been responsive to appeals by the United States, saying that the country had allowed the registration of 27 trade unions since September.
He said Bangladesh has given assurances its parliament will pass amendments this month to its labour law to address freedom of association and worker safety. But he added, ‘There’s a great deal of corruption and governance challenges that still need to be met.’
‘Our hope is that Bangladesh will seize the current moment to strengthen labour rights and improve working conditions. This administration wants to see Bangladesh succeed,’ Blake said.
Since the Rana Plaza disaster, more than 40 companies — most from Europe — have signed on to an agreement that would include independent monitoring of factory conditions and a stronger role for labour unions.
But only three US companies have joined, with US retail giants Walmart and Gap opposed.
Blake said that the decision to enter the accord was up to each company but that the US government has asked firms ‘to carefully examine what they can do to support improved working conditions in Bangladesh.’
‘Had there been a union representative on the ground at Rana Plaza, that tragedy would not have happened,’ Blake told the hearing.
Senator John McCain cautioned against such hasty US action, warning it could ratchet up unemployment in an impoverished country.
But Celeste Drake, a trade and policy specialist at the AFL-CIO, was scathing about Bangladesh’s failure to respond to a string of deadly industrial accidents.
‘What’s the body count that you need to really make changes?’ she told lawmakers. ‘We are well beyond what anyone would need to see as evidence that the government’s very feeble efforts and the voluntary compliance programs of the corporations simply are not working.’
The AFL-CIO filed the petition seeking withdrawal of GSP benefits in 2007, which was expedited late last year amid concern from US lawmakers over deteriorating labour rights and the April 2012 killing of prominent labour activist, Aminul Islam — a case that has not been solved.
Eric Biel, the Labour Department’s acting associate deputy undersecretary for international affairs, said there currently were less than 100 government inspectors in Bangladesh to monitor between 4,000 and 5,000 factories that employ some 4 million people, 80 per cent of them women.
Bangladesh’s ambassador to the US Akramul Qader, who attended the hearing but did not testify, defended his government’s record, saying it had improved worker rights and increased the minimum wage. Authorities have closed 20 unsafe factories since the Rana Plaza disaster, he said.
‘We are trying our best,’ Qader said.
While the GSP covers less than 1 per cent of Bangladesh’s nearly $5 billion in exports to the US and doesn’t include the lucrative garment sector, it could deter American companies from investing in Bangladesh and sway a decision by European Union, which is also considering withdrawing GSP privileges. EU action could have a much bigger economic impact, as its duty-free privileges cover garments.

-With New Age input

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All options about GSP under consideration

Admin — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:22:49 +0000

The United States administration will announce its decision on GSP benefits for Bangladeshi products by the end of this month and all options are under consideration, including possible suspension, limitation, or withdrawal of the facilities. “The Administration will announce a decision on the petition by the end of June; and all options remain under consideration, including possible suspension, limitation, or withdrawal of Bangladesh’s GSP benefits,” Assistant United States Trade Representative for Labour Lewis Karesh said while testifying in a US Senate hearing on labour issues in Bangladesh on Thursday.
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing on Labour issues in Bangladesh on Thursday. Senator Robert Menendez presided over the hearing at the Senate Office Building in Washington.
Karesh also said, “Despite our many efforts with Bangladesh, beginning in late 2012 the USTR-led GSP Subcommittee grew increasingly concerned that the worker rights situation in Bangladesh was in fact deteriorating and concluded that the situation warranted consideration of possible withdrawal, suspension, or limitation of Bangladesh’s trade benefits under GSP.”
Consequently, on January 8, 2013, USTR published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on the possible withdrawal, suspension or limitation of Bangladesh’s GSP benefits. The primary purpose of the notice was to make stakeholders aware of the seriousness of our concerns and the need for action by the government of Bangladesh,” he said.
“At the same time, we communicated our concerns to senior officials of the government of Bangladesh that we would be making a decision on next steps in the GSP review by mid-2013, that the country’s GSP trade benefits were at stake, and that we would be looking for evidence of substantive progress by the government in improving the worker rights situation,” he added.
At the opening statement, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Menendez said, “Bangladesh has a long way to go in shifting from a culture favouring corruption to one that is friendlier to workers, enforcing pro-labour legislation, allowing for the freedom of association without repercussion, and enforcing building and fire inspection codes.”
“Since Rana Plaza, the Bangladesh government has committed to a number of steps to improve conditions, including amending its labour laws, raising the minimum wage for garment workers, registering more trade unions, and increasing the number of building inspectors,” he said.
“Unfortunately, past promises have gone largely unfulfilled,” he added.
Regarding GSP benefits for Bangladeshi products, the influential Senator said, “Absent significant collective changes that improve labour conditions and worker safety, the Administration should seriously consider suspending with conditions Generalized System of Preferences benefits to Bangladesh.”
“While only a small fraction of Bangladesh’s exports would be affected, given ongoing violations of the GSP workers’ rights criteria, GSP suspension would send a strong signal that the United States is serious about protecting workers and improving workplace safety,” he added. While testifying at the hearing, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said, “Our goal is to help Bangladesh continue to build on its economic achievements, but to do so in a way that ensures the growth of its export sector does not come at the expense of safe and healthy working conditions.”
“We believe three key reforms are particularly important to improving labour rights and conditions in Bangladesh: guaranteeing workers’ rights to organise, guaranteeing fire safety, and ensuring structural soundness of factories and other facilities,” he said.
Bangladesh is now at a critical moment in its history, he added.

-With The Independent input

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Private sector key for Dhaka-Washington economic ties: US official

Admin — Mon, 27 May 2013 03:23:24 +0000

The visiting US assistant secretary for economic and business affairs on Sunday said that private sector could play an important role for the development of the bilateral
economic relationship between the United States and Bangladesh.
‘The private sector like water and electricity can develop relationship in future between the United States and Bangladesh’, Jose Fernandez told the US-Bangladesh Private Sector Forum meeting at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh organised the programme presided over by its president Aftab ul Islam.
Fernandez said that bilateral relationship was important to increase trade volume and the US and Bangladesh were now exercising a respectful relationship.
‘The world economy faced various types of difficulties between 2010 and 2012, but the trade volume of the two countries attained 11 per cent growth in the period’, he said.
Besides, the trade volume between the US and Bangladesh increased to $5.4 billion in the last decade which was double against the previous decade, Fernandez said.
The examples highlight that a potential relationship exists between the two countries, he said.
‘The private sector will be critical as we move forward’, he said.
Fernandez said that the US-Bangladesh Private Sector Forum had created an opportunity to increase the volume of trade and investment of the two countries.
‘Our (US-Bangladesh) future is bright; but that future will not come easily. We have to make it ourselves.’
He said that Bangladesh had improved in the child mortality and poverty eradication that was now world recognised.
Bangladesh needed to address workers’ right and their workplace safety, Fernandez said.
The US assistant secretary made the comment when Bangladesh is facing severe criticism at home and abroad due to the multi-storey Rana Plaza collapse incident at Savar on April 24 that killed more than 1,100 people, mostly garment workers.
Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said that discussion would continue through this forum to improve the trade relationship along with government-level bilateral partnership between the US and Bangladesh.
Aftab ul Islam said that questions had been raised due to the Savar tragedy and there was no scope to avoid the problem without solving it.
Corruption, political turmoil, poor infrastructure and lack of good governance have emerged as major obstacle in attracting the foreign direct investment to Bangladesh, he said.
The country’s business sector will become an attractive target for the FDI if the problems could be solved, Aftab said.
There is an opportunity to increase investment to the country’s private sector along with the government sector, he said, adding, the forum would find out the opportunity to develop the private sector.
Among others, Bangladesh’s ambassador to the US Akramul Kader, International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Md Sabur Khan attended the programme.

-With New Age input

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Dipu Moni backs proposed trade pact with US

Admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:10:01 +0000

The proposed Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) will help in expansion of trade between Bangladesh and the US, foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni said on Wednesday. “TICFA is an official platform that can resolve problems in trade and commerce. Of course, the agreement will be mutually beneficial for Bangladesh and US and trade expansion, provided we formulate it in such a manner that it will protect the interests of both countries,” she told a press conference at the foreign ministry.
The briefing was organised to apprise journalists of her recent tour of US, as well as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Thailand.
“We have a long negotiation as to what will be included in the agreement. We have our interests and so does the US. So, all interests should be protected and that is why the negotiation took so long,” the minister added.
She, however, did not say as to when the agreement would be signed and whether the government had made a decision to sign it. “It’s for the government to decide on principles. After the Cabinet’s approval, we can say that this is a government decision. It will be premature, if I say it will be signed today or very soon. After the Cabinet’s approval, it will be decided as to when it will be signed,” she added.
Asked if the foreign ministry had approved the agreement, Dipu Moni said, “It’s not a matter of a single ministry. Discussions are on through an inter-ministerial mechanism. Negotiations have been going on for a long time involving the foreign, commerce and labour ministries.”
On her view on continuing with GSP for Bangladeshi products, the foreign minister said, “Exports under GSP facility is very negligible and it is much less than one per cent of the total exports to US. But, it is important for Bangladesh for the continuation of the facility, because it is related to the image of the exporting country. So we want GSP facility to continue. It is necessary to ensure that it does not have any adverse effect on other markets.”
“We want the continuation of GSP and whatever needed to be done will be done in this regard,” she said, adding that there was no connection between TICFA and GSP.
Dipu Moni said concern among the US policymakers has increased after the Rana Plaza tragedy at Savar. “I believe that we have been able to make them understand that Bangladesh has taken effective measures to ensure labour rights and safety at workplaces.”
She added: “We had started taking measures before the Savar tragedy. Naturally, we have intensified our efforts after the collapse of Rana Plaza. We have to resolve the problems. All of us will have to work together, to address these issues.”
The minister said Bangladesh had apprised the US authorities of the government’s initiatives, including an amendment of the labour law and Washington’s response appeared to be positive.
Asked about jute minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui‘s communication to US ambassador Dan W Mozena, the foreign minister said, “We were not informed about the letter, before it was sent. We were informed later. As far as I know, he (Siddiqui) wrote the letter in his personal capacity. The ambassador’s comments were published in a section of the media. The minister made his reaction known to the ambassador in the letter.”
Asked if writing such a letter, bypassing the foreign ministry, went beyond diplomatic norms, Dipu Moni said, “He (Siddiqui) informed me that he had written the letter in his personal capacity. He did not use government letterhead. The letter was sent through email.”

-With The Independent input

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US-Bangladesh tech investment summit on May 7

Admin — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:15:29 +0000

US-Bangladesh Tech Investment Summit will be held at Silicon Valley of San Francisco in the United States on May 7 to promote the investment
opportunity in Bangladesh IT industry for the US investors.
The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services and USA-based Indus Enterprise will jointly organise the summit, sponsored by Agrani Bank.
‘This summit is specially designed to attract US investors to Bangladesh IT sector,’ BASIS president
AKM Fahim Mashroor told in a news briefing at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.
He said the summit would offer the US investors of Silicon Valley an idea about the scopes and opportunity of technology boom in Bangladesh in precise manner.
‘The global IT firms still choose India or Philippine as their IT investment destinations which have already become high-cost markets. Now we need to tell them we can deliver similar services in cheaper rates,’ he said.
‘It will create many small and large business to business communication as more than 50 Bangladeshi IT firms will attend the event to promote their products and services,’ BASIS senior vice-president Shameem Ahsan said.
He said the summit also had a secondary objective to spread the outsourcing potential of the country to the US investors.
‘But our basic focus this time is to draw foreign investment,’ he said.
When asked whether the ongoing political tension could affect the summit, BASIS general
secretary Russell T Ahmed said, ‘This is the right
time as we need to promote that our country has
positive images to offer to the world.’
‘We believe the summit will open a door to US investors and help attract foreign investment which is our core purpose to sponsor this event,’ Agrani Bank chairman Khondoker Bazlul Hoque said.
Organisers said the key policymakers from the Bangladesh government and Silicon Valley senator will attend the summit besides the IT professionals.
newagebd

-With New Age input

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Int’l conference on Bangladesh to be held at Harvard

Admin — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:46:24 +0000

An international conference on “Achieving Edge for Bangladesh” will be organised at Harvard University in the United States on October 13.
The conference will discuss “Sustainability of Good Governance” and “Management of Strategic Resources” in reference to Padma Bridge and shared water resources, said a press release.
Bangladesh center for Development Studies, a civil society think-tank in North America, will organise the conference where all parties concerned, including top ranking leaders of the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP, will exchange their views.
The first session will focus on how to sustain good governance and its impact on the development of Bangladesh. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, a director of UNDP, is expected to deliver the keynote speech at the session.
While newly appointed Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, acting secretary general of BNP Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, AL lawmaker Nazmul Hasan and BNP’s information and research secretary Shakil Wahid will speak at the session.
The second session which is expected to be chaired by John Briscoe and Peter Rogers of Harvard University, will discuss the challenges that Bangladesh has faced so far in ensuring effective management of shared water resources.
This session will be addressed by Bangladesh’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Dr AK Abdul Momen, acting editor of the Daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman and Dr Enamul Haq, said the press release.

-With The Daily Star input

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Bangladeshis out of DV-13 lottery

Admin — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 11:48:28 +0000

Citizens of 18 other countries cannot apply next year
The United States has declared 19 countries including Bangladesh ineligible for the upcoming Diversity Visa (DV) 2013.
The State Department in an announcement said all these 19 countries ‘sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years.
The 18 other countries are: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Persons born in Hong Kong SAR (special administrative region), Macau SAR and Taiwan, however, are eligible for the programme, the announcement said.
It also mentioned that for 2013 fiscal year, 50,000 diversity visas will be available and the annual DV programme makes visas available to persons meeting simple, but strict, eligibility requirements.
CHANGES IN ELIGIBILITY:
For DV-2013, natives of South Sudan and Poland are now eligible for selection.
The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the DV process more efficient and secure.

-With The Daily Star input

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10 yrs on, US still mourns

Admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:32:43 +0000

Americans yesterday remembered the horror of September 11, 2001, and the nearly 3,000 people who died in the hijacked plane attacks as authorities worked to ensure the emotional 10th anniversary was peaceful.
Law enforcement authorities in New York and Washington were on high alert against what was described as a “credible but unconfirmed” threat of an al-Qaeda plot to attack the United States again a decade after the toppling of the World Trade Centre’s twin towers by hijacked airliners.
Security was especially tight in Manhattan, where police set up vehicle checks on city streets as well as bridges and tunnels coming into the city.
President Barack Obama visited the North Memorial Pool, which sits in the footprint of the north tower. Obama walked around the pool hand-in-hand with First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W Bush and his wife Laura as an eerie silence fell over lower Manhattan which was devoid of traffic and where construction has stopped for the morning.
People gathered near the site, some clutching American flags, to watch a large screen set up to show a remembrance ceremony here. Some wore T-shirts reading, “Never Forget,” a slogan popular since the attacks.
“It was our Pearl Harbour,” said John McGillicuddy, 33, a teacher from Yonkers, New York, getting coffee and carrying two American flags on his way to the World Trade Centre, referring to the Japanese attack that led America to join World War Two.
“Things have gotten better, we are more aware as a country about things going on in the world,” he said.
Family members arrived wearing T-shirts with the faces of the dead, carrying photos, flowers, American flags and other mementos in an overwhelming outpouring of emotion.
The attacks are now such a part of American life that learning about them is part of the school curriculum. This was the first anniversary which included an American president.
The memorial includes two plazas in the shape of the footprints of the Twin Towers with cascading 30 foot (9.1 metres) waterfalls. Around the perimeters of the pools are the names of the victims of the September 11 attacks and an earlier 1993 attack at the Trade Centre.
In the September 11 attacks, 19 men from the Islamic militant group al-Qaeda hijacked airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon outside Washington and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

-With Reuters/The Daily Star input

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US for govt talks with Yunus

Admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:34:42 +0000

Blake says compromise possible; Wolfensohn backs amicable solution
The United States yesterday called for a dialogue between Prof Muhammad Yunus and Bangladesh government to reach a solution to the dispute over the status of the Nobel laureate in the Grameen Bank he founded.
“‘I do believe that a compromise is possible and I am encouraging dialogue between the parties to find a mutually acceptable solution,” Robert Blake, US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, told a news conference at the American Club in Dhaka.
Replying to a question, he, however, said, “If there is no compromise, it will have an effect on bilateral relations.” He did not elaborate.
During his four-day visit, Blake met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, senior government officials, Prof Muhammad Yunus and civil society members. Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn was present during Blake’s meeting with the prime minister.
The US had earlier said it was “troubled” by government’s dismissal of Yunus as managing director of Grameen Bank on the ground that the 70-year-old pioneer of microfinance violated the bank’s 60-year retirement law. Yunus denied any wrongdoing and appealed to the High Court.
After losing the appeal in the HC, Yunus has gone to the Supreme Court, where his petition awaits further hearing.
In a written statement yesterday, Blake said Prof Yunus has brought great honour to Bangladesh, and “we in the United States have been deeply troubled by the difficulties he is currently facing.”
“‘As a friend and partner of Bangladesh, we are concerned about the dampening effect this will have on civil society in general and on the integrity and effectiveness of Grameen Bank in particular,” he said.
The United States, he said, sees it as “a distraction and an unnecessary departure from all the great work being done in Bangladesh.”
Asked what could be the compromise, Blake said the United States does not prescribe any formula. “It could be found through dialogue between Prof Yunus, Grameen Bank and Bangladesh government,” he added.
In reply to another question if the US stand on Prof Yunus is interference in Bangladesh’s internal matters, Blake said, “Prof Yunus and Grameen Bank have positive reputation in USA and among many Congressmen, members of the Bangladesh congressional caucus, President Obama and Secretary Clinton. This is a matter of great interest in USA,” Blake said.
Blake said Yunus is a Nobel Prize winner and recipient of the American Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Congressional Gold Medal. “His work over the past decades to lift millions of women out of poverty is internationally recognized,” he added.
Asked if Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could visit Bangladesh this year, he said he will try to make a schedule “if Yunus’ matter is solved”.
The US official praised Bangladesh’s progress in economic development, counter terrorism and regional partnership.
“Bangladesh plays an important role in furthering peace and stability, both within its borders and across the region,” he said.
Bangladesh, he said, “is the number one contributor to UN peacekeeping efforts, BRAC and other civil society groups are playing role in Afghanistan. Bangladesh recently sent a crack team of cholera experts to Haiti to lend expertise and assistance to that troubled country.”
Blake further said Bangladesh is one of a select few countries in the world that is partnering with the United States on the four signature initiatives of President Barack Obama : global health, food security, global climate and engagement with Muslim communities.
Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in MDGs especially in maternal and child health, he said. And further progress could be made in reducing human rights violation by the security forces and corruption.
Blake said he visited a shelter in Jessore for women victims of trafficking. He appreciated enactment of laws against sex trafficking and protection of migrant workers.
WOLFENSOHN FOR AMICABLE SOLUTION
Talking to journalists after a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, James Wolfensohn said, “I am here to take a note of the microfinance industry, not just the current issue with Prof Yunus. I am going from here to other countries such as Vietnam, Hong Kong and China. This is part of an overall view.”
On the Nobel laureate, the former WB chief said: “I just hope that the issue ends in peaceful resolutions because your country has been a great leader in microfinance.”
“I think your reputation is very strong. It would be my hope and belief that it will remain so. Whatever you are doing in your country is your business, not mine,” said the former WB president who visited Bangladesh as part of his global tour.

Courtesy of The Daily Star

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Room still there for compromise

Admin — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:01:08 +0000

Blake says about Yunus’ removal after meeting PM; Muhith says Yunus could be a fellow at GB
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake yesterday said “there is still room for compromise” in resolving the issue arising from the removal of Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus as the Managing Director of Grameen Bank he founded.
“Such a compromise will also allow us to continue very good progress that we made in our bilateral relations,” Blake told journalists after an hour-long meeting with Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes at the Foreign Office.
Blake, on a four-day visit to Bangladesh, met with the foreign secretary after a call-on with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier in the day.
“I had a very good, productive and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Hasina,” Blake said in reply to a question. “We discussed a wide range of issues on our bilateral agenda. We also discussed Dr Yunus and I expressed our hope that a compromise will be found that will ensure the integrity and independence of the Grameen Bank.”
Blake said, “I will leave it to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her team to describe their position. I hope a successful resolution can be found.”
A US Embassy press statement issued after Blake’s meeting with Hasina said, “They discussed a full range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including counter-terrorism, economic development, regional and global security, and civil society.”
It said, “They reiterated their respect for Dr Muhammad Yunus and expressed hope, shared by the US Congress and the public at large, that an agreement could be achieved and that nothing would be done that might damage the effectiveness and integrity of Grameen Bank.”
Sir James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank, also attended Blake-Hasina meeting, the statement said. Wolfensohn is in Dhaka to discuss microfinance in the region, it said.
According to Prime Minister’s Office sources, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, PM’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the PM MA Karim, Secretary to the PM Mollah Waheeduzzaman and US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty were also present during Blake’s meeting with the prime minister.
Asked if Prof Yunus issue came up in the talks, PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said, “no comment.”
On Saturday, Blake met with Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia. After the meeting, he told journalists Washington expressed concern about the way the removal of Yunus has been handled. He hoped Yunus issue would be resolved amicably and said he and Khaleda held the same view.
Early this month Bangladesh Bank dismissed 70-year-old Yunus as Managing Director of Grameen Bank saying he was holding the post illegally beyond his 60-year retirement age. Yunus challenged the removal in the High Court, which upheld the central bank order.
Yunus then filed an appeal against the HC ruling with the Supreme Court. After a hearing on March 15, the full-bench of the highest court deferred the hearing by two weeks.
Yunus’ removal sparked criticisms at home and abroad. The US said it was “troubled” by this, and called for an honourable treatment of Yunus.
In his media briefing yesterday evening, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes said Blake shared with him some thoughts to settle Prof Yunus issue.
Quayes did not provide details, but said he would share those with the finance ministry which he said is the competent authority to deal with the issue.
He however said he told the US official that the matter is now pending with the Supreme Court, and it is difficult to comment further.
Quayes said the government has nothing to do anything about it now.
The foreign secretary termed Bangladesh-US bilateral relations matured partnership with convergence of values and engagements. “Our relationship is at the advanced stage,” he said.
GOVT WANTS TO SHOW RESPECT YUNUS, SAYS MUHITH
Meanwhile, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said Yunus can stay with Grameen as an emeritus fellow, not as a managing director or chairman.
“Acknowledging his contribution, the government wants to honour him. He can stay as an emeritus fellow at the bank,” the minister said.
Muhith spoke after a meeting with Blake at the Economic Relations Division.
Muhith said the proposal to Dr Yunus asking him to stay aside as the managing director during a government probe into the microfinance bank’s activities is still ‘on the table’. “He can accept the proposal if he wants.”
On the meeting with Blake, Muhith said the US wants a respectful solution to the Yunus issue.
“He (Blake) wanted to know whether any solution can be reached before the Supreme Court gives its verdict on an appeal by Dr Yunus.”
“I told him that the settlement of the issue is not in the hands of the government. Yunus has filed the appeal and he has to withdraw it before any agreement can be reached,” the minister said.
Muhith said the US is anxious about the process of removal of Yunus as he is a person respected across the world. The US also expressed that the process of excluding Yunus was not decent.
“We also said the process of removal was not decent, but it would never have happened if he had resigned,” he said.
The minister ruled out the possibility of appointing Yunus as Grameen chairman — a solution proposed by the Nobel laureate himself to ensure a smooth handover of leadership to the next managing director.
“Yunus must leave the post of managing director. A committee has been formed to look into the issue of Grameen Bank. It will also look into the restructuring of the bank. We will have to wait until the committee submits its report,” Muhith said

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