28 June 2013 Friday 6:25:02 PM

Govt’s poor handling costs GSP: BNP

DHAKA :: Opposition BNP on Friday alleged that the USA has suspended the GSP facility to Bangladesh due to the government’s incompetence to maintain international lobbying and poor handling of the crucial issue.

“The suspension of GSP facility by the USA has proved that the government has failed to deal with the issue and maintain international lobbying…for almost the same reason the World Bank has canceled its funding for Padma Bridge,” BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told a discussion.

National Research Foundation arranged the programme at the National Press Club protesting the closure of the printing press of the daily Amar Desh and torture on its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman during police remand.

The US has suspended trade privileges for Bangladesh until the country improves workers’ safety conditions in the clothing industry. The move will bring tariffs back on some of Bangladesh’s exports to US markets under the programme, known as the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).

Fakhrul alleged that the government could not ensure proper probe and take due action after the fire in Tazreen Fashion and SavarRanaPlaza incident that claimed around 1250 lives.

“Our all dreams are being shattered one after another due to the failure of the government,” he lamented.

Referring to the BNP-backed candidates’ victory in the recent four city corporation polls, the BNP spokesman said people through the ballot asked the government just to go.

Mentioning that the government has become desperate to win Gazipur City Corporation polls, Fakhrul alleged that it is trying to use the administration to manipulate the elections.

He urged the Election Commission to play a strong role in ensuring a free and fair election to the GCC slated for July 6.

Demanding deployment of Army during the polls, Fakhrul threatened to wage an oust-government movement from Gazipur if the regime tries to rig the city corporation election or manipulate it.

The BNP spokesman also urged the government to immediately reinstate the caretaker government in the Constitution to oversee the next general election.