BNP to send request letter to US: Fakhrul

BNP will soon send a letter to the US government requesting restoration of trade facilities under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme for Bangladesh, said BNP acting  secretary  general Mirza Fakhrul  Islam  Alamgir  yesterday.
He was addressing a press conference organised in BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters in the capital demanding immediate release of BNP leader Ruhul Kuddus Talukdar Dulu.
The US on June 27 suspended the privileges after a six-year review exposed “serious shortcomings” in safety and labour standards.
Fakhrul also rejected Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu's allegation in Bogra on Friday that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was responsible for the suspension as she wrote a letter to the US government to suspend the privileges.
The Daily Star yesterday could not contact Inu on his cellphone despite several attempts.
On January 30, Khaleda wrote an article on The Washington Times, stating, “They (the US government and its allies) must explain to Ms. Hasina that general preferences for trade will be withdrawn if those who support workers' rights and have political views opposed to those of the prime minister are not now allowed to express their beliefs."