Bangladesh has sought a two-year duty-free access to the US market for its readymade garment products as the coronavirus pandemic put the country’s major export-earning sector in peril amid cancellations of global orders. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the request to the US government, considering the current situation, during his phone conversation with US Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Pottinger last evening. Momen also sought US support so that no export order from Bangladesh is cancelled. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) claimed that orders worth over USD 3 billion have been cancelled over the last couple of months. International brands and buyers’ business practices have been “questioned” amid cancellation of orders, putting vast number of RMG workers in immense hardship though owners made significant investments after the Rana Plaza tragedy, bringing massive reforms. Bangladesh, the top garment exporter in the world after China, is heavily dependent on European and American orders. Bangladesh government and industry leaders started raising the issue of cancellation of orders by the international brands and buyers at various levels amid coronavirus crisis. The adviser to US President Donald Trump highly appreciated Bangladesh’s role in dealing with the current situation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He assured Bangladesh of continuing US support to deal with the challenges of Covid-19.
