The latest concerns of the administration was communicated in a
letter from the US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton to Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina which was handed over by US Ambassador Den Mozina to
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni last week.
Earlier on that day, the US Ambassador had warned the RMG exporters
at a meeting that Dhaka’s apparel exports to the US and the European
Union may face stormy situation soon if abuses of labour and human
rights are not halted.
Hillary Clinton in her letter appreciated the warm welcome accorded
during her recent trip to Dhaka but she has also expressed her concerns
on the maintenance of the Grameen Bank’s integrity.
She hoped that the government would try to ensure the continuation
of the ‘innovative governance system’ of the Grameen Bank and its
‘ownership structure’ where 97 percent of its shares are now held by the
poor borrowers. Moreover, she has also asked for a fair and transparent
review of the status of the independent companies that Prof Mohammad
Yunus has set up, suggesting that they should not be undermined anyway.
The US stance on the Gramen issue which is known to the government
since the beginning of the crisis and the global support that the Nobel
Peace Prize winner and his co-winner the Grameen Bank itself enjoy, is
now coming close to a confrontation since the start of the commission’s
functioning.
Hillary said she has high regards for Grameen Bank as it has
brought welfare to eight millions of the poor, mainly women in
Bangladesh and therefore the microcredit organization should be
protected. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s view, however, is opposed to
that of the US administration.
Ambassador Mozina, referring to the abduction and killing of RMG
labour leader Aminul Islam, erosion in labour rights and the negative
perceptions which the Americans are getting on Bangladesh, said these
are undermining the country’s interests. Mozina has also ruled out duty
free access of Bangladesh’s exports into the US, especially the
RMG products and said: “It is a political decision.”
Strategic partnership
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton in her letter has also emphasised on the
convening the first dialogue on US-Bangladesh strategic partnership to
be held in Washington soon. The two sides signed the partnership
agreement during her recent visit to Dhaka and Washington has proposed
to hold the first meeting in the sideline of the UN General Assembly
meeting scheduled for September this year.
Political analysts believe that Washington may use the Gramen Bank
issue as a critical point on the table along with other agenda of
discussion in the light of the new strategic significance that
Bangladesh has assumed in the changing regional context. The US has
many things in its hands to pressurise Bangladesh although Dhaka appears
largely an unwilling partner on certain issues that Washington is
asking to make progress, they said.
Dan Mozena’s comments on the future of Bangladesh’s RMG exports to
the US market came at no worse time for the present government. He said
the worsening situation here is giving negative signals to the US
buyers. “These are potential threats to the economic wellbeing of
Bangladesh,” he told the BGMEA leaders at a meeting at the trade body’s
headquarters.
He told them that the emerging developments in the US, which is
Bangladesh’s single-largest RMG export market, could turn into a storm
to threaten the made in Bangladeshi brand in America and may drive key
buyers away from here.
“I believe, the changing perception about Bangladesh may
potentially threaten its wellbeing,” he said advising early remedial
measures.
Pointing to major issues creating negative country perceptions, he
said the delay in signing the US-Bangladesh Trade and Investment
Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) is one such irritant now affecting
the good environment for business. He said it is also adding along
with human rights abuses to convey negative perceptions about the
country while at the same time a “clean clothes campaign’ is also
spreading at the grass roots in the European countries.
Resolvable issues
He said, Bangladesh is a truly blessed country but each of these
challenges may stop the rise of the Bengal Tiger although these are
resolvable issues given the political will.
He said American people were informed of the negative stories about
Bangladesh through the NewYork Times, Wall Street Journal and ABC
News. On political issue, Mozena said major political parties should
reach an early agreement on a mechanism for holding free, fair, credible
and participatory elections. It may put positive signals to US buyers.
