WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants cut in subsidies on fisheries

GENEVA, Jun 16 (UNB): The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has asked Bangladesh to reduce the subsidies on fisheries.

It came from Dr Okonjo Iwela, director general of WTO, on Thursday when she called on visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting room of Hotel President here.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the reporters about the outcome of the meeting.

He quoted the WTO DG as saying that her organization would like to sign an agreement with Bangladesh in this regard.

"We said we will consider this (the issue of subsidy)," said Momen adding that Bangladesh does not give heavy subsidies on fisheries though.

The WTO chief mentioned about the dispute settlement body of the organisation which has remained inactive for a couple of years due to some big countries.

Dr Iwela requested the prime minister to raise the issue when she goes to the G-20 meeting to be held in next September in New Delhi and other international forums, according to Momen.

"This is the main strength of the WTO," she was quoted as telling the prime minister. The WTO DG asked Bangladesh to diversify its export basket.

In this connection she wanted Bangladesh to put emphasis on pharmaceuticals and IT sector reducing dependency on RMG export, the key foreign exchange earner of the country.

Regarding fishing in deep sea PM Hasina said that Bangladesh lacks in capabilities in this sector.

She put emphasis on learning from the experience from Japan, Thailand and the Maldives in deep sea fishing.

The prime minister said that she already talked with the Maldives and Japan in this regard.

Earlier, Qatar's Labour Minister Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri called on the prime minister at the same venue.

He said there are some 370 thousand (3.70 lakh) Bangladeshis working in his country.

He said that they are satisfied with the performance of the Bangladeshi workers. "Qatar has expressed their interest to take more manpower from Bangladesh. They will ink an agreement for this purpose," Momen said.

BSS adds: In another event Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made it clear that the next national election would be held on time to uphold the continuation of the democratic trend in the country.

"The election will be held on time, people will cast their vote, people will give the vote to whoever they want as the sole owner of their vote, who gets the people's vote will form the government. This is the democratic trend, and it will continue," she said.

The premier made this remarks while addressing a civic reception accorded to her at Hilton Hotel in Geneva on Thursday evening by expatriate Bangladeshis in Switzerland.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling party Awami League (AL), said that as BNP knows it very well that they would not get any vote from people due to their evil deeds and that is why they are now looking for a backtrack from the election process.

"Actually, they (BNP) are the party of thieves and vote riggers, it is not possible for them to come to power without vote dacoity," she said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Geneva for home after attending "World of Work Summit: Social Justice for All" held on June 14-15.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Prime Minister and her entourages took off from Geneva International Airport, Switzerland at 11.50am Geneva time (3.50pm BST).

The flight was expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 01.30am today (Saturday).