Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladesh need not worry about the new US labour policy, which the White House mentions as a "historic step to advance worker empowerment, rights and high labour standards globally".
Addressing concerns raised in a letter sent by the Bangladesh envoy in Washington to the commerce ministry regarding potential US restrictions against the local ready-made garment sector, the minister on Thursday said that in the US, the private sector dictates business practices.
He added that US buyers continue to import RMG products from Bangladesh due to their cost-effectiveness. "They get good products at cheaper prices from us."
The minister also commended Bangladesh's RMG entrepreneurs for their compliance with labour regulations and reforms.
The minister expressed his disapproval of the recent leak of the letter written by the Bangladesh envoy to the US by journalists, saying, "Journalists in the country lack patriotism and that is why they leak documents."
"This is very unfortunate and does not happen in other countries. Journalists should be more respectful of their country."
Regarding the letter to the commerce ministry, the minister clarified, "I heard that the letter was sent to the commerce ministry, and they are dealing with it. I do not handle such matters directly."
The embassy's letter, dated November 20, noted that "labour issues in Bangladesh were specifically quoted by the Secretary of State and the acting Secretary of Labour at the launching ceremony" of the labour rights memorandum.
It expressed concern that Bangladesh could be among the targets for stringent US measures such as sanctions, trade penalties and visa restrictions.
While the labour rights directive is applicable globally and not specifically targeted at Bangladesh, weeks of labour unrest in the readymade garment industry over better pay demands and subsequent deadly clashes with police prompted the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington to raise alarm for Dhaka.
The mission interpreted the mid-November US presidential memorandum as a "signal" of potential action from the economic superpower -- Bangladesh's single-largest apparel-export destination -- that could affect Bangladesh as well.
Commenting on the meeting between US Ambassador Peter Haas and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen earlier on Thursday, the minister said that it was a routine meeting and no significant issues were discussed.
In response to a question, the minister urged foreign envoys stationed in Bangladesh to comply with the Vienna Convention, which outlines the code of conduct for diplomats.
The foreign minister hoped that the US, as the richest and most powerful country in the world, would come up with development packages for labour welfare, refugee welfare and addressing the challenges of climate change.
"America is the last resort of all the people of the world. We would welcome such programmes from the US," he said.
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