‘Ensure fair prices for apparel from Bangladesh’

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has urged European policymakers to ensure fair prices for apparel sourced from Bangladesh, to incentivise the ongoing reform initiatives in the country’s RMG industry.

The request was made during a meeting with Maria Arena, Member of the European parliament (MEP) from the Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and chair of the parliament’s Human Rights Committee at the European Parliament in Brussels on Thursday, the second day of his visit to Brussels.

He briefed the MEP about key developments in the RMG industry in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza tragedy, following Arena’s particular interest in the business and human rights agenda, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.

Shahriar Alam gave a brief account of the measures taken by Bangladesh government to strengthen democracy and human rights.

Arena stressed the importance of following up on the European Union’s recommendations for further electoral reforms.

“Every society and country needs to find its own equilibrium through enacting and implementing legislation pursuant to its international human rights obligations,” Shahriar told Arena.

Explaining the objective of the Digital Security Act 2018 in Bangladesh, he said the law is aimed at preventing and prosecuting criminal acts in the cyber sphere that could have destabilising consequences for society in general.

He emphasised that there is no scope for undue harassment or restriction against media personnel under the law.

Editors’ Council in Bangladesh has been critical of the law, saying it is an obstruction to press freedom.

Shahriar Alam thanked the MEP for issuing a statement calling for implementation of the order issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent genocidal acts against the Rohingyas in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.

He urged the European Parliament to remain seized with the issue through its various monitoring mechanisms and tools towards facilitating the safe, dignified and voluntary return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Earlier in the day, Alam had a bilateral meeting with Maximilian Krah, MEP from the Identity and Democracy Group and Rapporteur for South Asia in the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee.

They had detailed discussions on the issues raised at the multi-stakeholder event held on February 5 to take stock of the progress made in Bangladesh’s RMG industry and discuss future potentials for EU-Bangladesh apparel trade.

MEP Krah assured of his support to sustain the momentum of positive narratives emanating from Bangladesh in reversal of the previously projected image of the country in the international context.

State Minister Alam also met some apparel industry actors in Brussels and exchanged views with representatives from the Bangladesh community in Brussels, and took note of their suggestions concerning consular and other services.

He invited members of Bangladesh community across political divide to join forces to observe the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman abroad in a befitting manner.