The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The government Monday formed two task forces to guide the country to get a new US trade bill passed, which could benefit the apparel industry significantly.

US Congressman Jim McDermott introduced in the US Senate the trade bill titled "The New Partnership for Development Act of 2007" on October 18.

Commerce secretary Feroz Ahmed will head one taskforce comprising the BGMEA, BKMEA, line ministries and business representatives while CPD executive director Dr Mostafizur Rahman will lead another taskforce comprising research and civil society organisations. The taskforces were formed at a meeting held at the Ministry of Commerce, with Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Mirza Azizul Islam in the chair.

The meeting examined possible benefits out of the bill, if it is passed, as well as discussed the possible measures to get it passed. The meeting decided to take government and private sector initiative through Bangladesh missions abroad to inform the proposed beneficiary countries, particularly the beneficiaries of AGOA and other African countries, of the possible benefit of the bill.

It also decided to examine various aspects of the proposed bill and take corrective measure to motivate placing an amended bill to be suitable for Bangladesh and other proposed beneficiaries. Commerce secretary Feroz Ahmed, FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain, BGMEA president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, BKMEA president Fazlul Haque, BTMA president Abdul Hye Sarkar and officials concerned were present at the meeting.