John Kerry's visit
It is after long four years that a US Secretary of State is visiting Bangladesh. He is coming at a time when the country is going through a testing period. And we acknowledge the US' words of support and offer of help at this trying time of ours.
That said, we would not be remiss to suggest that over the last few years BD-US relations have endured strains on several counts, particularly on the issue of GSP facilities for Bangladesh. The facility was withdrawn in June 2013 mainly for three reasons – work place safety, labour rights i.e. rights of association, and no headway in arresting the accused killer of Aminul Islam, the head of AFL-CIO chapter in Bangladesh.
The fact on ground is that since the time the trade preference was withdrawn, Bangladesh has addressed the major issues quickly and decisively. For example, the 2006 Labour Law was amended in July 2015, granting full freedom of association to the workers. And a guideline was formulated by the government last year spelling out the actions mandated on the factory owners to ensure workers' safety in work places. Even the Accord & Alliance, a third party inspection body of US retailers, have so far visited more than 3,000 RMG factories in Bangladesh to inspect the structural, electrical, and fire safety standards of the factories. Many factories that have not met the required standard have been closed down. And as for the accused killer of Aminul Islam, who is absconding, legal procedure is underway to confiscate his property.
Bangladesh is a small country with a large population, but in spite of that it has made great strides in human development, agriculture, and meeting the various development goals. It is better than most countries in South Asia as far as the human development index is concerned. Therefore, we fail to understand why the US should continue with the GSP ban despite the fact that Bangladesh has met almost all the 16 conditions laid down by it. The US is the second largest destination of Bangladesh in terms of RMG but, unfortunately, a good part of earning from its garment export to the US goes in taxes.
We feel that there is not an appropriate acknowledgment of our achievements on the part of the US, and that is mainly due to a fragmented and partial judgment of the developments taking place in this country and not a comprehensive view. And that, we are afraid, has created a perception in this country that, in spite of the US statements from time to time, we feel, it is not with us in the way we would like it to be. We hope that John Kerry's visit will break new grounds and that it will help clear the misperception in our minds by assuring us, among other things, of quick and positive actions towards lifting the GSP restrictions.
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