Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin has urged the US government to allow Duty Free and Quota Free (DFQF) access of Bangladeshi products especially the ready-made garments to the US markets, repots BSS. “Bangladesh, the current LDC Chair and the largest apparel exporter to the USA along with other Asian LDCs, do not get Duty Free Quota Free access of their products to the US market although 34 African LDCs are enjoying this facility,” he said. He said the US, on the basis of justice and equal treatment, should consider all LDCs to get DFQF access, especially when the EU is providing such facility to all 48 LDCs. The ambassador made the remarks when he met US Congressman Mike Kelly in Washington on Tuesday, according to a message received here. During the meeting, the Bangladesh envoy briefed Kelly, who is the Member of the House Ways and Means Committee dealing with tax, trade and economic growth policies, on various development activities of Bangladesh. He also briefed the Congressman on the existing strong bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the USA and the mutual cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism. On Bangladesh’s position to fight against terrorism and violent extremism, Ziauddin said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who herself is a victim of terrorist acts, is a strong believer of “zero tolerance” against terrorism and violent extremism. In 1975, he said Founding Father of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was brutally assassinated along with 18 members of his family. “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also survived as many as 19 assassination attempts on her life,” he said adding that having such a brutal past, she possesses inherent hatred against all forms of extremism and terrorism. The Ambassador further informed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is working closely with its neighbors and the United States for eliminating extremism and terrorism from South Asia. The Ambassador told the Congressman that the present government attaches high priority to women empowerment and education including modern madrasa education. He said 90 percent of four million workers in the RMG industry are women who have stepped out of their homes and are contributing to poverty alleviation, literacy, and above all weakening extremism and reinforcing the government efforts to eliminate extremism and terrorism. “Women are transforming our society into a progressive one and it is a solution for ridding the country of all forms of radicalization,” he added. Congressman Kelly appreciated the Ambassador’s initiatives of briefing him on many issues including DFQF issue and praised the dynamic and robust economy of Bangladesh.
