Finance
Duty Free Access Dhaka wants duty-free access to the US market
Dhaka, September 25: Dhaka has called on the United States to provide duty-free access to Bangladeshi products, inviting more investment in Bangladesh. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam made the call during a meeting between US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and ministers and senior officials from Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka in New York on Wednesday, according to a State Department press release.
During the meeting, Alam highlighted the social and economic progress of Bangladesh even during the Covid-19 situation under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The State Minister spoke about the climate challenges of Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable countries and the leading role of Dhaka in tackling these challenges.
The issue of Rohingya crisis was also raised at the meeting. He called on the international community, including the United States, to take urgent steps to ensure the safe, dignified and permanent return of the Rohingya to their homeland.
On bilateral issues, Alam raised the issue of handing over Bangabandhu's self-confessed killer Rashed Chowdhury, who is currently living in the United States.
Sherman recalled the long-standing relationship between Bangladesh and the United States and promised to work more closely with Dhaka in the days to come.
During the meeting, Alam also congratulated the newly appointed US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Ambassador Donald Lu.
The Minister of State is now in New York to attend the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations as a member of the Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
