A top US official has said the United States is disappointed at both election irregularities and opposition boycott in the middle of city corporation elections and laid importance on investigation into those irregularities for a better election next time.
US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman who arrived in Dhaka on Thursday to lead US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue also laid importance on additional work to be carried by the country on the issue of retaining GSP facility.
Addressing a post-dialogue press conference on Friday, she said more need to be done on organising union, stopping leader harassment and intimidation and physical violence in the garment sector particularly ensuring international labour rights in EPZ.
"In last six months, Bangladesh has hired more inspectors, carried out more inspections, closed unsafe factories which are really quite extraordinary track record. What needed to be done to expedite those inspections, address union reprisal and bring amendment to the Bangladesh labour act into force. Internationally recognised labour rights are also to be extended to the export processing zone."
The US undersecretary said investigation (of irregularities) in the elections is very important for democracy and expressed her gratitude that the government is very forthright in this regard.
"We were disappointed both by irregularities and BNP's boycott.. I think everyone has to focus on to have a transparent investigation into those irregularities and then to set about making sure that the next election is highly improved," she told reporters at state guesthouse Meghna.
Addressing the press conference, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said the fourth partnership dialogue was 'frank, brief and construction forward looking dialogue' where discussion took place on three broad areas -- development and governance, trade and investment and security cooperation.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal and US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat were present in the press conference. From Bangladesh side, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mahfuzur Rahman and DG External Programme S Bodiruzzaman were present.
Undersecretary Sherman arrived in Dhaka on Thursday and met with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Commerce Minister on the sidelines of the partnership dialogue.
Talking more about the GSP facility, she highlighted instances that union applications are wrongly denied, labour leaders have been intimidated, harassed and targeted and looked forward for additional progress in garment sector.
Ms Sherman termed garment sector an engine of the growth of Bangladesh for helping lift the country out of the extreme poverty level and said Bangladesh's economy may bring billions of more dollars by moving up value chain and the US effort is to make Bangladesh brand.
She referred to the US support on factory and community organising efforts with a new $5.0 million program and said the US is looking forward to working with the ministry of labour to develop a mechanism to deal with unfair labour practices in a just and timely manner.
Referring to the outcomes of the two-day dialogue, the US undersecretary said the discussion focused on finding ways that two moderate, pluralistic nations can work together to advance common goals in development, trade, security, and regional integration.
"We've made a lot of progress on those goals, especially in development, where Bangladesh has made remarkable strides. And we'll continue to stand with the Bangladeshi people and support that progress through President Obama's Global Health, Feed the Future, and Global Climate Change initiatives."
She said US supports Bangladesh's goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021 and is actively partnering and investing its resources to make it a reality.
During the press conference, the US undersecretary also referred to the recent earthquake in Nepal and Bangladesh response to the disaster, the World press freedom day and said the United States values freedom of press as a key component of democratic governance.
"Democratic societies are not infallible, but they are accountable, and a free exchange of ideas is the foundation for accountability. When the press can't do its job properly, society suffers," she added.
Ms Sherman said the United States is Bangladesh's largest single-country importer of garments but companies such as Chevron and Coca-Cola are among many US businesses looking to invest in Bangladesh.
She also lauded the role of the peacekeeping operations and said Bangladesh is already a force for global peace and stability and with its improving naval capabilities, Bangladesh will become a key maritime security provider in the Bay of Bengal.
The US-Bangladesh partnership dialogue was launched by former US secretary Hillary Clinton to ensure government-to-government undertakings for larger relationship between the two countries.
Since its inception, the dialogue took place both in Washington and Dhaka in alternative year. The third partnership dialogue was held only six months ago.
smunima@yahoo.com
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