Ambassador Ziauddin meets Congressman Gerry Connolly

DHAKA, Sept. 9 (NsNewsWire) — Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin met with US Congressman Gerald E. Connolly on 8 September and discussed wide range of issues including restoration of GSP for Bangladesh.

Other issues that came up during the meeting include present government’s efforts for empowering women, combating terrorism and religious extremism and Dhaka-Washington cooperation in various fields.

The Ambassador told the Congressman that the US government should restore the GSP facility and duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the American market, particularly RMG to strengthen Bangladesh’s ongoing fight against extremism.

The envoy said that Bangladesh-US bilateral relations are based on mutual respect and trust and both share same values and objectives.

Ziauddin said Bangladesh does not enjoy GSP or any trade preference from the US while preferential treatments being provided to its trans-pacific partners shall undermine the competitiveness of Bangladeshi products in the US market. Bangladesh apparels are subjected to high tariff in the US as opposed to zero tariffs to almost all other developed countries in the world.

This predicts a negative consequence for the export of Bangladeshi RMG to the US with devastating impact on Bangladesh’s apparel industry, women empowerment, poverty alleviation and above all, country’s war against extremism and terrorism.

Congressman Connolly recalled that during the war of independence in 1971 he was a college student and fully aware of the sacrifices made by the people of Bangladesh and supported the legitimate cause of struggle for independence.

Congressman Connolly, who serves as vice-chair of the New Democrat Coalition expressed his sincere willingness to stand beside Bangladesh for restoration of the GSP, and thanked the Ambassador for briefing him on Bangladesh.