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WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (BSS): Senator Lincoln D Chafee, Chairman of the Senate Sub-committee for Near East and South Asia of the Foreign Relations Committee, has assured Foreign Minister Morshed Khan that he will work together on the Trade Act.
"I am a supporter of free trade", Senator Chafee said, when Foreign Minister Morshed Khan met Chafee at his Senate office here yesterday.
The bill titled Trade Act of 2005 that proposes duty-free access for textile and other products from 14 Asia-Pacific LDCs including Bangladesh has recently received the support of a number of key Senators, making its prospects bright.
Stressing the need for duty-free access of textile products from Bangladesh, the foreign minister said that such access is not only important for the economy of Bangladesh but also crucial for sustaining empowerment of women as readymade garment industry employs over 1.5 million female workers.
The foreign minister also reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to fight extremism in all its forms. He said that the government is seriously dealing with the 17 August multiple bomb blasts and has already arrested a large number of persons involved in that incident.
He assured Senator Chafee of government's sincerity in bringing to justice the perpetrators of all political violence including those responsible for the killing of former finance minister SAMS Kibria.
Both sides agreed on the need for working together on various areas of Bangladesh-US relations. Senator Chafee accepted foreign minister's invitation to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time. They also discussed the overall political and economic situation in the South Asian region.
The foreign minister told the sub-committee chairman that Bangladesh is sincere in maintaining friendly relations with all its neighbours.
The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States, Shamsher M. Chowdhury, was present on the occasion.
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