BNP efforts for GSP revival

In a bid to upstage the Awami League-led government and score brownie points, the BNP has jumped into the fray on the GSP issue.

It says it will write to the US requesting restoration of the duty-free access of Bangladesh-made goods in its market.

“We will formally write a letter to the US authorities and request them to restore this facility,” party’s Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a media briefing on Saturday.

He said the BNP would issue a statement in this regard.

The opposition party blamed the government’s ‘failures’ in convincing the US not to suspend the GSP for Bangladesh-made products.

The US suspended Bangladesh’s preferential trade access on Jun 27 to push Dhaka to improve working conditions in its garments factories and ensure better safety.

Bangladesh's government has requested the US to revive the GSP immediately in view of 'positive steps' taken already to improve labour conditions and factory safety.

US says the GSP suspension will be an ‘opportunity’ for Bangladesh to better its working conditions and industrial safety.

Experts fear the suspension will become a huge blow for Bangladesh if the European Union followed the US footsteps. The EU imports almost 60 percent of Bangladesh’s ready-made goods.

Analysts say it helps the BNP, seeking to return to power in the upcoming parliament polls due later this year or early next, to demonstrate before the electorate that it enjoys support of major powers such as the USA.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had appealed to the US to intervene to 'restore democracy' in Bangladesh in a special column she wrote for 'Washington Times' earlier in the year.

The Awami League blasted Zia for that, blaming her for undermining the country's sovereignty and even threatening legal action.

The GSP suspension came in the backdrop of last year’s Tazreen factory fire killing over 110 workers and April’s Rana Plaza collapse which left over 1,100 dead, mostly ready-made garment workers.

Fakhrul rubbished Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu’s allegation that BNP chief Khaleda Zia had written to the US seeking suspension of the GSP facility.

“The Information Minister is trying to mislead the nation with false information,” he said.

“The Opposition Leader did not send any letter anywhere [in this regard]. Rather the BNP has started working to regain the GSP facility for the country,” the BNP leader added.

Fakhrul alleged the government has ‘completely’ failed to protect the GSP facility for Bangladesh that saved its exporters $2 million in tax in the 2011-12 fiscal.

“US envoy Dan Mozena had said yesterday (Friday) that the GSP has been cancelled due to the Rana Plaza and Tazreen accidents. So, the Information Minister’s claims are baseless,” he argued.