The apex body of Bangladesh’s apparel industry owners claimed that the European Union has assured Bangladesh of not following the United States regarding the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) privileges.
“GSP is a big challenge for Bangladesh although the EU assured us of not following the US about GSP facilities,” said M Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) during a Meet the Press at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) conference room on Friday.
Regarding the withdrawal of GSP facility from the US government, the BGMEA president said the US ‘overreacted’ to this end as Bangladesh pay around $800m a year as duty for access to the US market.
Instead of duty withdrawal, he said, the US administration imposed a restriction on duty free exports only for $26m.
Blaming Bangladesh’s global competitors in the sector, he said: “Bangladesh has competitors in the sector and thus our neighbouring countries would never want the sector to grow,” said the BGMEA president.
Atiqul, however, said the multi-billion dollar readymade Garment (RMG) industry is now passing through a critical juncture as conspiracies both at home and abroad are being hatched in the sector.
“Of course the sector is suffering from conspiracies. A section has been hatching conspiracies in a bid to drive away its investment to the country’s competitors,” he said.
Buyers are worried after the Tazreen factory fire and Rana plaza collapse, he claimed adding that political parties both in government and opposition should come up to protect the interest of the country.
Bangladesh would be able to earn $40 billion a year from exports of RMG goods if provided with political stability, infrastructure and positive campaigning, he said.
He brushed away the speculation over the ‘miracle’ survivor Reshma saying that he does not think that this is a pre-planned drama.
“We cannot accept it when a foreign country publishes in media whatever it wants,” said the BGMEA president.
DRU president Shahed Chowdhury and joint secretary Elias Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
