BD seeks duty-free access to US mkt

Bangladesh has urged the United States (US) to grant duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to its market and sought more US investments in Bangladesh, reports BSS.

The call was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam while he participated in a meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman along with other Ministers and senior officials from Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka on Wednesday in New York, a foreign ministry statement said.

In the meeting, Alam highlighted the social and economic progress achieved by Bangladesh even during the Covid-19 situation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The state minister talked about the climate challenges faced by Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable countries, and the pioneering role played by Dhaka in addressing these challenges.

The issue of the Rohingya crisis was also raised in the meeting when he called upon the international community, including the USA, to take urgent steps for ensuring safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

Sherman recalled the long-standing relationships between Bangladesh and the USA, assured him of working further closely with Bangladesh in the coming days.

During the meeting, Alam also congratulated Ambassador Donald Lu, the newly-appointed US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.

The state minister is now in New York for participating in the 76th United Nations General Assembly as a member of the Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.