A Bangladesh delegation led by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed visited Washington D.C. on 11-12 June 2014 and held important meetings with a number of representatives of the US House and administration. The 10-member business delegation includes BGMEA President Md. Atiqul Islam, BGMEA Vice President Md. Shahidullah Azim, BKMEA’s acting President Mohammed Hatem, Director General of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense Brig. Gen Ali Ahmed Khan; workers’ representative Sukuur Mahmud and an Alliance representative.

The United States has assured continued support for further development of Bangladesh’s RMG sector and acknowledged the progress already made in the areas of labour rights and factory safety.
The assurance came during Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed’s meetings with the US officials in Washington on Wednesday, according to Bangladesh Embassy in Washington.
Tofail Ahmed held separate meetings with US Trade Representative Michael Froman, Congressman Sandy Levin, high officials from the Department of State as well as Department of Labor which included Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine A Novelli, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal, and various retailers’ associations.
During his discussions with the USTR, Congressman Levin and other officials of the US government, the Commerce Minister briefed them of the progress made in accordance with the US ‘Action Plan for GSP’.
He also urged them to consider duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) market access of Bangladesh apparels into the US market which can further boost the ongoing progress of the RMG industry that has employed more than three million women in the sector bringing about positive changes in women empowerment, child and maternal health, education, and other socio-economic sectors.
Tofail Ahmed highlighted that the support and assistance of private sector like BGMEA and BKMEA, ILO, Alliance, Accord and a number of western countries including the US.
Congressman Levin called the initiatives of Accord and Alliance as important for the progress of the RMG sector.
Undersecretary Novelli mentioned that the umbrella program for GSP is yet to be renewed and once renewed there may be opportunities for Bangladesh but in the meantime, she emphasized that, the remaining issues under the GSP Action Plan need to be addressed by Bangladesh.
Nisha Biswal appreciated the partnership between Bangladesh and the US to promote the issues of mutual interest.  She expressed interest in seeing a boost in intra-regional trade among the south Asian countries which is minimal vis-à-vis their external trade with the outside world.
Tofail Ahmed is leading a delegation comprising the private sector members including BGMEA President Md. Atiqul Islam and Vice President Md. Shahidullah Azim, and BKMEA’s acting President Mohammed Hatem.