Duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to US market discussed

US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty yesterday lauded the able and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the recently concluded 64th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

The appreciation came when the US Ambassador called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office.

Moriarty said that the Bangladeshi premier's participation at the UNGA and her speech on various crucial issues like climate change, food security, world economic recession and terrorism were highly acclaimed by the world leaders.

"Sheikh Hasina's visit to the USA to attend the recently concluded UNGA session was fruitful as she had very successful interactions with world leaders, including President Barack Obama on various crucial issues which the present world is confronting with," said James Moriarty.

After the meeting, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen.

During the meeting, they discussed various issues including duty and quota free access to Bangladeshi products to US market, US investment to Bangladesh, food security, anti-terrorism activities and reopening of Dhaka-New York Biman flight.

In reply, the prime minister told the US envoy that she had fruitful talks with US President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the sidelines of the UNGA session.

During the talks, she said that she had invited the US president and his wife to visit Bangladesh and they gladly accepted the invitation.

She said during the meeting with President Obama and leaders of UN Peace Keeping Contributing Countries in New York, matters of Bangladesh's representation in UN peace keeping building and policy making levels as well as appointment of Bangladeshi officials at senior posts of the mission were discussed.

Besides, the Prime Minister sought US cooperation in fulfilling needs and problems of expatriate Bangladeshis in the USA.

Referring to Bangladesh's existing political situation, the prime minister said the opposition should join the parliament session to speak for the people to fulfill their needs and problems.

"The opposition should join the current session of the Jatiya Sangsad to strengthen the parliamentary democratic system in Bangladesh and speak for their own people," she added.

During the meeting, the prime minister expressed her satisfaction over the joining of Patrick Kennedy, son of former senator Edward Kennedy, in the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus in the US House of Representative saying that her family had relations with Kennedy's family.

About bilateral relations, they said that excellent bilateral relations is existing between Bangladesh and the USA and expressed the hope that the relations would be further expedited in the days to come.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim and Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion.