Bangladesh earned US Dollar 124.73 billion by exporting readymade garments over the last six and a half years, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said in the parliament Tuesday, reports BSS. “Bangladesh earned US Dollar 124.73 billion by exporting readymade garments to140 countries of the world from January, 2008-2009 to May, 2014-2015,” he said in reply to a question raised by treasury bench member DidarulAlam (Chittagong-4). Responding to another question raised by ruling party lawmaker EnamulHaque (Rajshahi-4), the commerce minister said the government has taken various plans to reduce Bangladesh’s trade gap with India, China and Pakistan. Mr Ahmed 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),” he 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. Mr Ahmed said Bangladesh is also participating regularly in the international trade fairs in China and other SAARC countries to raise export,familiarise products and expand market. “We are also continuing bilateral and multilateral discussion with different countries to develop our trade ties,” he said. Besides, he said, measures have been taken to increase Bangladesh’s trade contact with the businessmen of China, India and Pakistan. Meanwhile , Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed Tuesday said in the House the state run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has been selling essential products by 174 open mobile trucks at fair prices across the country. “The TCB would continue selling of various products at fair prices till July 16, 2016,” he said, while replying to a question from treasury bench member Mohammad Iliyas of Cox’s Bazar in the House. The minister said the TCB’s appointed dealers have been selling essential products by open mobile trucks in Dhaka, Chittagong, 5 divisional towns and 57 districts across the country. Besides, the government has appointed 2,879 dealers and recruited 50 manpower for smooth activities of the corporation aimed at strengthening the TCB,Tofail added. He said the ministry has also undertaken initiatives to establish zonal offices in Faridpur, Comilla and Bogra districts for expansion of the TCB’s activities. “We have a plan to establish godowns on TCB’s own land in Moulvibazar, Rangpur and Chittagong and construct residential buildings for TCB’s officers and employees at Uttara,” the minister informed the House.
