Kerry visit paves way to take ties to new height
Ambassador Ziauddin again urges US to
grant DFQF market access
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT
The recent successful visit of United States Secretary of State John Kerry to Bangladesh paved the way of taking the existing Dhaka-Washington partnership to a new height, Ambassador to US Mohammad Ziauddin has said.
During a meeting with Congressman Chris Van Hollen, a democrat and member of Congressional Caucus, at the Capitol Hill on Tuesday, he also reiterated Bangladeshs call for granting duty free quota free (DFQF) market access for Bangladeshi products to the US market, said a press release forwarded by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington on Wednesday.
While briefing the US lawmaker on various development activities of Bangladesh, Ambassador Ziauddin focused on the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, especially the mutual cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He mentioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas zero tolerance against all forms of extremism and terrorism.
The Ambassador sought US support for duty free quota free market access for Bangladeshi products along with all the least developed countries (LDCs) to the American market.
Currently 34 out of 48 LDCs are enjoying DFQF access to the US market, whereas the European Union is providing this facility to all the LDCs on the basis of EBA (Everything But Arms), he reminded.
Speaking on women empowerment in Bangladesh, Ziauddin said more than four lakh women are engaged in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, and contributing to the alleviation of poverty, elimination of child labour and lessening the menace of extremism. Congressman Chris Van Hollen thanked the ambassador for the briefing.
