Bangladesh earned US Dollar 124.73 billion by exporting readymade garments over the last six and a half years, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told the parliament on Tuesday. “Bangladesh earned US$124.73 billion by exporting readymade garments to 140 countries of the world from January, 2008-2009 to May, 2014-2015,” he said in reply to a question raised by treasury bench member Didarul Alam (Chittagong- 4). Responding to another question raised by ruling party lawmaker Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), the commerce minister said the government has taken various plans to reduce Bangladesh’s trade gap with India, China and Pakistan. Tofail said India allowed duty-free access of all Bangladeshi products except tobacco and narcotics products from November 9, 2011 following the steps of the Bangladesh government to boost trade with India. He said the efforts for removing duty and non-duty barriers through discussion at different time and levels are underway. “Steps have been undertaken to get duty- free access of a huge number of goods from other SAARC countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA),” Tofail said. The commerce minister said Bangladesh is participating regularly in the international trade fairs in Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Shilchar, Mumbai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar in India to familiarise the Bangladeshi products. “This trend would continue in future,” he said. Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh is also participating regularly in the international trade fairs in China and other SAARC countries to raise exports, familiarise products and expand market. “We are also continuing bilateral and multilateral discussion with different countries to develop our trade ties,” he said. Besides, Tofail said, measures have been taken to increase Bangladesh’s trade contact with the businessmen of China, India and Pakistan, a BSS report added.
