Bangladesh is yet to fulfil the labour reforms required for GSP, US Ambassador in Bangladesh Peter Haas said on Wednesday reminding that the same kind of reform is also crucial to get the EU's GSP plus facility, which is more important for the country.
Addressing a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, the US envoy also explained that the improvement of the US-Bangladesh ties does not mean the growth of trade because the US factors like democracy and human rights are instrumental and also critically important for sound bilateral ties.
Highlighting the US expectations from Bangladesh he listed string of measures including holding of free and fair election, joining the Indo-Pacific alliance, and signing two military agreements.
"Because the relationship between the United States and Bangladesh is so rich and so varied, so interconnected, that you can't just focus, trade investment and hope to advance the relationship" he said while outlining the measures.
"We really have to look at the relationship as a whole and how to deepen each and every aspect of that relationship".
He said the United States have five goals for Bangladesh and these goals are mutually reinforcing, integrated and holistic.
Respondingh toa question on restoration of the GSP he said, the US suspended GSP because of its concern over the labour rights protections in Bangladesh, and those concerns continued.
Thought there is 'tremendous progress, particularly in worker safety and particularly in export oriented sectors, there has been less progress perhaps in non export sectors, he said.
"And one of the other areas where there's not been sufficient progress is in terms of labor rights in the sense of being able to organize to form unions engage in collective bargaining".
He observed that the GSP Plus facility of the EU, also requires much greater labor protections for GSP, he said.
The envoy mentioned that funding from Development Finance Corporation, which is a US body 'having lots of money' also require improvement of labour rights situation.
Referring to the US country strategy on Bangladesh the envoy said, US wants to see 'a more peaceful and stable Bangladesh, better able to provide for its own security, counter threats to US interests, and serve as a growing security contributor in the Indo Pacific and globally'.
"So we're committed to working together to ensure that the Indo Pacific region remains free, open, peaceful, prosperous and secure"
Highlighting the importance of stronger military ties he said, peace and security are the fundamental aspects to prosperity and military of both the countries regularly works to increase ability to respond to humanitarian disasters, and to reinforce the partnerships between them.
In this regard he mentioned the 46th annual Indo Pacific army management seminar jointly organized by the two countries last month in Dhaka.
"So this gathering is one of the largest land forces conferences in the entire region. Senior military officials from all of the Indo Pacific countries were invited to exchange their views and ideas: he said adding that it demonstrated joint commitment to a free and open Indo Pacific.
The US also wants to sign two foundational agreements with Bangladesh to advance our military relations namely the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
"These are presented as though they're very complicated. They're really not. The first one just allows our militaries to provide each other logistical support, supplies services to each other. So if an American ship in the Bay of Bengal needs a spare part, the agreement allows the Bangladesh Navy to provide that spare part" he said detailing the ACSA.
He said similarly GSOMIA is not 'very frightening' as the agreement will allow our militaries to exchange confidential information.
About US vision on democracy and governance in Bangladesh he said, "Our second goal on the nest is committed to democracy, transparency, pluralism, tolerance, good governance and respect for human rights and simply plays democracies tend to do a much better job of generating and sustaining prosperity than other governance regimes".
The promotion of democracy is particularly important right now is founded so looks towards the upcoming parliamentary elections, the US envoy said.
" I want to make one thing very clear here. The United States does not support any particular political party. I'll repeat it. The United States does not support any particular political party".
"What we do want is a free and fair election, conducted in accordance with international standards, where the people of Bangladesh can freely choose their own government".
He noted that ensuring the free and fair elections is everybody's responsibility from the election commission to the government, from media, to law enforcement agencies, from civil society, to political parties.
"Everyone has an important role to play. And if any one of them fails to fulfill their responsibility, or any one of them prevent someone else from fulfilling their responsibility, free and fair elections are essentially impossible".
He made it clear that the recent violent clashes and political rallies and demonstrations here in Bangladesh remind us of that fact.
Free and fair elections essentially cannot take place in an environment with political violence, the US Ambassador said.
"So it's important for everyone, demonstrators political parties, the government, law enforcement to respect the rule of law and to refrain from violence, harassment and intimidation".
AmCham president Syed Ershad Ahmed moderated the discussion titled 'US Bangladesh bilateral relations: Business and trade as keys to expansion'. Its vice president Syed Mohammad Kamal gave the vote of thanks.
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