Rights groups blasts trade bias against LDCs

Several rights groups on Monday urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to ensure that products from the least developed countries (LDCs) like Bangladesh get duty and quota free concessions in developed markets. The demand came at a human chain protest organised by 23 rights groups outside the National Press Club. The groups said WTO should oppose import liberalisation and tax exemptions for the multi-national companies. The human chain was told that the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver for the potential pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh will expire by 2016. But the emerging industry still needs the waiver to compete in the international market, speakers at the rally said, according to a news agency.