Govt to reply to USTR, congressmen: Tofail

The government is going to send letters to six US Congressmen and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the current week in reply to their observations made in refusing to revive the suspended GSP facility for now.       
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed disclosed the plan Monday at a media briefing at his secretariat office after a meeting with US Ambassador Dan W. Mozena.
He said, "We will send a letter replying to the letter of six congressmen sent to the prime minister on alleged harassment to labour activists in Bangladesh's apparel sector. Besides, we also will send a letter to Michael Froman of the United States Trade Representative office."
The commerce minister told the reporters that, during his US visit on June 10-14, he had seen met the US Congressmen who sent the letter to the PM.
"They all are highly politicians and political. They never visited Bangladesh factories. Only congressman Millar did," he said, indicating the political implications in this economic matter.
Besides, "We will send a letter to Ambassador Michael Froman of USTR. He is the real and perfect person who handles our issues concerned," Mr. Tofail said.
The letter of the US congressmen is "a political letter." On the other hand, "the letter of USTR is "real letter", he further said.
He noted that Bangladesh's apparel sector is much respected all over the world at this moment. "We all have to be conscious to protect the achieved goodwill."
Tofail said trade representative Michael Froman will visit the Asian continent as early as possible. During the visit, he is requested to inspect several factories to see in person.
The minister expressed the hope that the rest of the garment factories would be inspected by December, as part of the enforcement of compliance with the conditions set in an action plan.  
"There is no worker repression in the country's apparel sector at this moment," he categorically said.
 "They have expressed satisfaction about the progress Bangladesh has achieved after the collapse of Rana Plaza building. It was a wake-up call," the minister said.
He hopes that the US would soon withdraw the suspension of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), allowing Bangladesh to sell products under the preferential arrangement, he also said.
Ambassador Mozena renewed the US call for ensuring fair labour practices in the Bangladesh apparel sector.  
He told the reporters after the meeting with the commerce minister that "unfair" labour practices, most especially crackdowns on labour activists, are not acceptable. Such acts "must stop immediately".
In their letter, dated June 30, the group of US lawmakers sought 'personal assurance' from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that all appropriate government authorities will properly investigate and respond to the serious allegations brought by the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) following the attacks in Bhaluka, as well as any other unresolved allegations of intimidation and violence that have been brought to the attention of the government.
Requesting the prime minister to take personal initiative, the six congressmen, in the jointly signed letter, complained to her against Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and BGMEA President Atiqul Islam for what they said breach of trust.
Ambassador Mozena said he had a very productive conversation today (Monday) on issues related to trade between the United States and Bangladesh and to transforming Bangladesh's apparel sector.
 "In our meeting, I shared my deeply held view that something good can come out of something bad. I believe the horrible tragedies of the Rana Plaza building collapse and the Tazreen Fashions fire have a silver lining-- these tragedies have launched a process that could and should transform Bangladesh's apparel sector by bringing the industry to international standards of fire safety, factory structural soundness, and respect for workers' rights to freely associate and organize," he said.
He said they reviewed the process for restoration of Bangladesh's GSP privileges as a driving force of change.
"The Action Plan is a roadmap for transforming the apparel sector. I noted that tomorrow, July 8, marks the one-year anniversary of the Sustainability Compact between Bangladesh, and the US and the EU in association with the International Labour Organization that incorporates many elements of the Action Plan."
The US envoy enumerated the areas in which Bangladesh has made considerable progress since the tragedies -- inspections are underway by the buyers and the National Plan to ensure compliance with agreed minimum standards for fire safety and factory structural soundness and some factories have been closed pending remediation of safety concerns.
"I reiterated United States' support for this transformation through diplomatic engagement, through USAID and the Department of Labour, and with strong congressional support, including a $5 million earmark for garment-sector projects," he told the media.
"I shared my view that this meeting was a good launch to the TICFA, which seeks to identify obstacles to increasing bilateral trade and investment and how best to overcome these obstacles," the diplomat said about the recently signed treaty between the two countries.     
"We also discussed the importance of the- 3+5 process by which the secretaries of commerce, labour and foreign affairs partner with five key ambassadors - including the U.S. - to review progress on the GSP Action Plan and the Sustainability Compact and drive and energize additional progress in transforming the sector," he noted.
Mozena reaffirmed American support for transforming the sector to help ensure that Bangladesh never again experiences a Rana Plaza or Tazreen Fashions disaster. Such a development would enable Brand Bangladesh to become a Preferred Brand, a Premium Brand, and the "greatest Brand in the world".