Bangladesh is set to undergo a United States-driven assessment of its readiness to implement prohibitive forced labour-related trade-compliance measures under the purview of a much-vaunted reciprocal trade deal.
Washington has moved to evaluate the feasibility of a potential import-prohibition framework linked to Dhaka's commitments under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), sources say.
For the reality check, a US team is scheduled to visit Bangladesh later this month to conduct a feasibility study, they add. According to official documents, the panel will be in Bangladesh on June 21-25 "to assess supply-chain vulnerabilities, import practices, and stakeholder preparedness concerning forced labor-related trade-compliance measures".
The study will be carried out by ICF International, a research and consulting firm engaged by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).
The US embassy in a letter says, "The US Department of Labor has commissioned a Forced Labor Import Prohibition feasibility study in Bangladesh in direct support of Bangladesh's commitment Under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART)."
The study comes amid growing international scrutiny of labour rights and supply-chain compliance, particularly in countries with large export-oriented manufacturing sectors, as importing nations increasingly adopt measures aimed at preventing goods produced with forced labour from entering their markets.
The team is expected to hold consultations with government agencies, trade bodies and other stakeholders to gather information on labour standards, import mechanisms and supply-chain risks.
An official release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on June 9 said the US Embassy in Dhaka had requested administrative support for the visit through a diplomatic note sent on May 18 by Sheila Ahmed, an Economic Specialist at the US Embassy.
To facilitate the high-profile visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested key government agencies -- like the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Commerce, and Labour and Employment, the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), and the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) -- to take the necessary steps to arrange the requested meetings.
An official says, "The agencies concerned are currently designating focal points and finalizing meeting schedules for the visiting team."
The delegation will include Andrew Korfhage, researcher at ICF International, Leena Khan, Labour Attaché at the US Embassy in Dhaka, and Saifuzzaman Mehrab, Labour Specialist at the embassy.
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