Bangladesh Ambassador meets 3 US House of Representatives on GSP

UsaNewsOnline, 25 August : Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin has met with Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY), Congresswomen Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Grace Meng (D-NY) in New York and discussed restoration of US GSP for Bangladesh and other issues of mutual interests.

The Ambassador informed that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina huge progress took place in the fields of workers’ rights and safety in the RMG sector. The Ambassador mentioned that by now, it is widely acknowledged that significant progress has already been made in the workers’ rights and safety, which manifests a changing approach and mindset in the affairs of governance.

Ziauddin urged the US government to restore GSP and allow duty free quota free access to the American market in recognition of the immense tasks done for workers’ rights and safety in the last two years. He added that Bangladesh likes to face the rest of the challenges through a sustained partnership with the United States.

The Ambassador said that Bangladesh as a LDC does not enjoy any “Special or Deferential” treatment from the US in terms of trade. Preferential treatments to the trans-pacific partners may chip away the competitive edge of the country like Bangladesh in the US market. Bangladesh apparel is subject to high tariff in the US market as opposed to zero tariffs to almost all other developed countries.

Congressmen expressed their keen willingness to stand beside Bangladesh for restoration of the GSP facility and subsequent duty free quota free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.

Discussing issued of extremism and radicalization, the Ambassador briefly explained to the Congressmen about religion-based politics in Bangladesh and its fierce manifestation by the BNP and Jamaat-i-Islami alliance in the recent times.

Congressman Peter T. King (R-NY) who is the Co-Chair of the Bangladesh Caucus in the US Congress and other two Congresswomen assured the Ambassador of making all out efforts for the restoration of GSP and duty free access  for Bangladesh. Political Counselor Nayem Uddin Ahmed of the Embassy accompanied the Ambassador.