Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Sunday said that a certain quarter is hatching conspiracy against the local apparel sector, the largest contributor of the national economy.
“An organization, named ‘IndustriALL Bangladesh’, has been hatching conspiracy against the readymade garments sector of Bangladesh,” he alleged.
The Commerce Minister came up with the allegation at a press conference at his Secretariat office. The press conference was organised to brief the media about his recent visit to the USA.
Tofail alleged that BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan was the chief of ‘IndustriALL Bangladesh’ while former Sramik League leader Roy Ramesh Chandra was its secretary general.
The organisation secretly sent a letter to U.S. where they stated that workers are being tortured in Bangladesh garment factories, he said.
“Had I not visited Washington recently, I would not know the allegations that the workers are tortured in Bangladesh,” he added.
Tofail Ahmed further said that ‘IndustriALL Bangladesh’ was regularly sending letters abroad in a bid to destroy the country’s garments sector.
In reply of a question regarding action against them, the minister said that proper steps will be taken against the people who sent letters against country’s interest.
The Minister also said that there were some labour leaders in Bangladesh who are not labour leaders at all. “The foreigners named Kalpana Akther, Babul Akther and several others who are not labour leaders,’ he claimed.
About the GSP issue, the Commerce Minister said there were no more obstacles to get back the trade preferences from the US as the country expressed satisfaction on the progress of their given conditions.
During his visit to the USA, Tofail held meetings with seven congressmen and the leaders of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). He also participated in a seminar at the Harvard University.
The Congressmen also said that Bangladesh made satisfactory progress towards fulfilling the 16 conditions set by the USA for restoration of the suspended Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).
“The US Congressmen hailed Bangladesh for its remarkable progress in ensuring workplace safety and workers’ rights in the garment sector,” he said.
