Staff Reporter :Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi has said that Bangladesh was deprived of getting Generalised System of Preferences [GSP] not for political reason, but for its failure to fulfilling all relevant conditions. “It was not mere political reason; rather we have failed to fulfil the conditions for GSP. And for that reason, the USA did not consider GSP for Bangladesh. So, if we can fulfil all of our pledges which were given to improve workers’ life standard, Bangladesh will get return the GSP in the US market,” he said this while addressing a seminar as the chief guest in the city on Monday. Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies [BIISS], Bangladesh Enterprise Institute [BEI] and National Defence College [NDC] jointly organised the seminar titled ‘The foreign policy imperatives with special emphasis on Bangladesh” held at NDC in the city’s Mirpur. Significantly, the statement of Gowher Rizvi directly contradicted the official statement of Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed where he categorically blamed the ‘political reason’ for not getting GSP and also said that no steps will be taken to get back GSP. He made the comment on August 11 after the denial by US authority to revive GSP to Bangladesh. Terming the reason political, Tofail at that time said, “Bangladesh has fulfilled all conditions to get GSP back but the facility is still suspended due to political reason. I don’t support taking any steps for reviving the GSP facility. Bangladesh will not be hampered if US don’t allow GSP facility.”Meanwhile, referring the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and USA, Gowher Rizvi said, “The bilateral relation between Dhaka and Washington is deeper and stronger than any other time in the past, although Bangladesh did not get GSP this year. Actually, it did not hamper bilateral relations of the two countries. The relation of Dhaka with Washington is warm.” The United States has renewed its GSP facility for 122 countries, but Bangladesh is not one of them. The trade benefits for Bangladesh were revoked in mid-2013 after the Rana Plaza collapse and Tazreen Fashions fire, which left more than 1,200 people dead.In this backdrop, pointing the despondent condition of foreign investment, Dr Rizvi also said, “Lack of good governance and bureaucratic tangle are the prime reasons for not increasing direct foreign investment [FDI] in the country.””To attract FDI, it will need more coordination among the government organizations. Moreover, we have no diversified investment policy…..I urge all not to plead to the foreigners, better work hard to improve life standard,” he said. Dr. Rizvi also stated various important aspects of foreign policy in Bangladesh as well as its prospect and challenges. He called for keen cooperation among the regional countries and international community for greater interests of all. The seminar was inaugurated by Commandant of NDC Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy and it was conducted by Senior Directing Staff of NDC Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain.Among others, intellectuals, high civil and military officials were present in the seminar. Besides, 25 senior military officials of 12 friendly countries along with 76 trainee officers took part in the occasion. “Bangladesh is now following the foreign policy in line with the policy introduced by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that friendship with all and malice to none,” Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Suhrawardy said . “In the meantime, Bangladesh has also worked hard for global peace and stability along with keeping its own diplomatic interest. The image of Bangladesh has increased in the international arena for its constant success in the field of diplomacy,” the NDC Commandant said. A nominated group of Course Members of NDC had presented well-researched keynote papers on the subject. Two discussants from BIISS and one from BEI also presented their papers on the subject. The papers and the seminar discourse suggested thought-provoking way forwards in regards to the foreign policy option for Bangladesh, its challenges and future potential, which drew attention of the audience and deserves due consideration.
