Staff Reporter :
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat on Wednesday categorically said that there is no ‘political reason’ behind the exclusion of Bangladesh from getting GSP facilities.
“The lacking of upgradation in ready-made-garment sector, which was the main reason for not getting GSP, is still remaining in different areas, although several dissimilarities have already been upgraded,” Bernicat said pointing the reason for not getting GSP.
She was talking to the newsmen after visiting two apparel factories Euta Fashion and Epilion Nitex at Razendrapur in Gazipur on Wednesday. Envoys of at least 10 other countries and representatives of development agencies accompanied her at the time.
The counter- statement of American ambassador came just one day after the announcement of Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed. “There is no basis, except political reason, behind the exclusion of Bangladesh from GSP list. However, Bangladesh will not try further for getting GSP. It won’t harm Bangladesh,” he said.
Refuting the Commerce Minister’s claim, the US envoy said, “This decision is not for political reason. And the GSP will also not be resorted on political ground in future. Earlier, Bangladesh was fit for GSP before Rana Plaza accident in 2013. But 16 work-plans, those were given to Bangladesh after the accident, are yet to materialize completely.”
Expressing optimism the US envoy, however, said, “We are all working together in this regard. Hope, the GSP facility will be available after the problems are solved……So far I think, the cancellation of GSP was speeded up following the Rana Plaza accident. The information had been collected for GSP at least 10 years before the collapse of Rana Plaza.”
About her latest visit in two factories, she said, “The condition of two factories which I’ve visited is good. Now their approach is positive and other owners will get initiatives from them….
“But the USA won’t think positively about return of GSP if the rules and regulations under labour law are not implemented properly.”
About 122 countries and regions are getting GSP facilities from July 29 following the approval of US President Barack Obama given on June 29. These countries and regions would get export facilities for about 5000 items to the USA without tax.
Of the SAARC countries, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan have been included in the GSP list. But significantly, the name of Bangladesh has been excluded. Besides, the name of Ukraine has also been erased from the list for political difference.
On the other hand, President of BGMEA [Bangladesh Garments manufactures and Exporters Association] Md Atiqul Islam yesterday told The New Nation, “It’s very unfortunate not getting GSP. We will proceed forward even if we do not avail the GSP. But obviously, it’s an image crisis.”
Echoing the same, Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chiarman of Centre for Police Dialogue, said “The working atmosphere and condition of workers in Bangladesh are far better than that of other countries those have been taken under GSP umbrella by the USA….It is not possible to make cent percent work-friendly environment with the payment given by the buyers for ready-made-garments.”
Official sources said that Bangladesh has reformed in several major areas, including completion of inspection of 3,669 factories to oversee structural, electrical and fire safety. The government also amended the labour law allowing freedom of association by the workers and arranged training programmes for industrial police as per the conditions.
Besides, the concerned ministry allowed registration over 350 trade unions. At the same time, the government had hired additional 200 factory inspectors, as per the conditions set by the US.
