Staff Reporter:
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday said there is nothing to worry about the new US poli-cy on labor rights as Americans and European buy Bangladeshi readymade garments due to its competi-tive prices and quality.
“There is nothing to worry about it. They buy our products because of our products are high quality and price is cheap and delivery is made on time,” he said while talking to the reporters at the foreign minis-try yesterday.
On November 16, the US rolled out “Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally”.
Washington said it will work to “hold accountable those who threaten, intimidate, attack on union lead-ers, labor rights defenders, labor organizations– including using things like sanctions, trade penalties and visa restrictions” –all the tools in their kit.
After that Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC in a letter to Bangladesh commerce ministry has said politics is behind what is said about labor rights in the memorandum, and the US would try to use the political purpose in different ways.
The foreign minister said the US is a major market for the RMG export and it is the private sector that exports and it is the US private sector that buys Bangladeshi products.
“They buy our products because our products are high quality and price is cheap and delivery is made on time,” Momen added.
The foreign minister said Dhaka will definitely welcome if the US takes initiatives for the development of entire labor sector worldwide.
“Bangladesh wants to see all workers are leading a good life,” he said.
He said Bangladesh does not want to see any efforts that hinder the development journey of Bangladesh.
Regarding yesterday’s meeting between Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, the Foreign Minister said it is routine meeting.
“We are happy that he (Haas) has returned after the vacation,” Momen said.
