Mozena calls for end to violence, talks on polls

FE Team | Published: March 24, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena called for an immediate end to political violence on Saturday and an early agreement among the bickering parties about holding a fair and credible election. He also called for continuity of the Grameen Bank uniqueness, improvement of workplace safety and ensuring workers' rights. The ambassador was speaking as chief guest at the Annual General Meeting of the International Business Forum Bangladesh (IBFB) at a city hotel. "An immediate cessation of political violence and early agreement among the political parties on a way forward to hold free, fair and credible elections would help greatly in attracting foreign investment," Mozena said. He said the USA encourages the government to ensure the continued effectiveness, integrity and unique governance structure of the Grameen Bank, which brings hopes for a brighter future to over 8 million vulnerable Bangladeshis, mostly women. Referring to the petition filed by the US labour organisation AFL-CIO against Bangladesh, he said the issues including workers' right to trade union, harassment of labour organisers, refusal to register legitimate unions, firing of those seeking to form unions and unsafe working conditions are real and serious, Mr Mozena said. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission (BHRC), FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, IBFB President Hafizur Rahman Khan and its founder and former president Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion. Mozena said in a few days there would be a hearing in Washington on a petition filed by the AFL-CIO that sought removal of Bangladesh's trade privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences due to inadequate protection of workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) and shrimp sectors. The ambassador said the loss of GSP privileges would send a strong, negative message to the marketplaces around the world. "Also, loss of GSP could disqualify Bangladesh from Duty Free/Quota Free (DFQF) access to the American market, should the WTO succeed, as many expect, to provide such access to LDCs (least developed countries) in the next two to three years," Mozena added. "If Bangladesh's GSP privileges are removed, I fear getting them restored would be a lengthy and arduous process," he said. The ultimate irony would be the WTO's deciding to give LDCs the DFQF facility, but Bangladesh would not be able to reap the benefit in the American market in the absence of the GSP privileges, he further clarified. He said when labour standards improve, when workers receive fair pay, when safety and working conditions improve, everyone benefits - both workers and owners, resulting in increased worker satisfaction, increased productivity, increased profits and increased export competitiveness. Mozena said progress in labour rights, retention of GSP and an ILO (International Labour Organisation) Better Work project could set the stage for explosive economic growth and greater opportunities for all Bangladeshis. BHRC Chairman Mizanur Rahman called upon the political parties to shun political activities that claimed many lives. He also urged the business community not to finance those political parties which promote vandalism. FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin said the business community wanted to see an end to brutality and vandalism in the name of hartal. "If the political parties do not bring such destructive politics to end, the business community will find out a solution on their own," Mr Ahmed said.