Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States (US) raised their voice together to help their motherland regain the GSP (generalised system of preference) and other trade related privileges from the US government, reports BSS.
In their latest move, the expatriate Bangladeshis under a platform named Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus (BADC) held a series of meetings with several members of the US House of Representative on Tuesday (Bangladesh time late Tuesday and early Wednesday) at the Capitol Hills in Washington, DC.
The meetings, dubbed as "Bangladesh Garment Review Meeting with the US Congressional Leaders", were chaired by BADC President Dr. Nazmul Hassan (Shahin).
Dr. Md Abu Naser (Rajib), Assistant Professor of Journalism Department of Communication Studies of California State University, Sacramento briefed journalists on the meetings at the National Press Club in Dhaka Tuesday night.
Dr Naser said BADC leaders had meetings with Congressmen Sander Levin, John Conyers, Gary Peters, Chris Van Hollen, John Dingell, and representatives of Congressmen George Miller, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chris Van Hollen, Mike Honda, Keith Ellison, Gerry Connolly and Rush Holt.
Representatives from the Ways and Means Trade Committee, US State Department, US Labor Department, USTR, Workers' Right Consortium, Solidarity Centre, Commerce Counselor Shafiqul Islam and Political Counselor Nayeem Ahmed from the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington also attended the meetings.
At the meetings BADC President Dr. Hasan suggested more dialogue between Bangladesh and USA to resolve any garments related issues like GSP privilege, duty and quota free market access, workers safety and labor union.
Responding to the advice, Congressman Sander Levin said that the US administration is deeply committed to protecting the rights of the workers by enforcing provisions for labor unions.
He suggested that Bangladesh must promote healthy workers union protecting workers interest. He also said that the burden is also on US consumers to pay a little more and support the cause for promoting health, welfare and safety of the workers.
Levin assured that the US government's focus would remain on helping the garment industry, not to distract the industry.
Congressman Gary Peters showed his candid interest in seeing the Bangladesh garment industry's continued growth. But he reiterated the importance of labor union protecting workers voice, improved wage and safe condition so that US consumers can be proud to buy Bangladesh brands.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen renewed his commitments to help bolster the Bangladesh garments market. He agreed, it is not prudent to cease operations but to strive for the better and transform the landscape of apparel industry in a positive direction.
BADC Executive Vice-President Dr. Zakirul Haque (Tuku) presented the BGMEA progress report at the meetings. Among others, President of American Association of Bangladeshi Engineers and Architects (AABEA), Engineer Monir Zaman, former president of AABEA, Engineer Hares Syed, Bangladesh Medical Association of North America leader Dr. Aboo Nassar, and BADC leaders Ripa Haq, Iqbal Faiz, Mowli Ahmed, Towhida Haque, Kazi Sohel Ahamed, Khan Kibria, Jannatul Ferdous, Sulaiman Bahar, Zubarul Chowdhury Khokon, Rahin Nasreen, Farhana Baki, and Habib Ullah attended the meetings.
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