The government has decided not to send any local representative to this meeting.

"The WTO general council meeting is very important for raising Bangladesh's voice. If any member does not participate in such a meeting, it means the country accepts any decision, either good or bad, taken by the WTO body," Badrul Hasan, former economic minister, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva, told the discussion on 'General Meeting of WTO: Concerns for Bangladesh and LDCs' at the CIRDAP auditorium.

Make Trade Fair Alliance organised it.

Badrul pointed out that there are some crucial issues like agriculture subsidy and aid for trade, on which Bangladesh should present its stand.

Ziaul Hoque Mukta, coordinator of Oxfam GB-Bangladesh Programme, presented the keynote paper at the function.

WTO is a culmination of political process of the developed nations, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir of Unnayan Onneshan said, suggesting that before demanding a market access Bangladesh should improve its industrial infrastructure.

He, however, lamented that donors' aid, which is needed for such improvement, has dramatically reduced.

Sharifa Khan, deputy director of the WTO Cell at the Ministry of Commerce, said although no official from Bangladesh would represent the WTO meeting this time, Bangladesh's position paper will be submitted to the meeting.

Shirin Akhtar of Karmajibi Nari also took part in the discussion, chaired by Masud Ali, member of MTF.