US delegation to visit Bangladesh for Partnership Dialogue

23 May '13

2 min read

A delegation from the US, headed by Under Secretary Wendy R Sherman, will visit Bangladesh from May 26-28, 2013, for the Second U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue, according to a statement released by the US Embassy.

The Partnership Dialogue is the premier forum for further expanding bilateral cooperation on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including development, civil society and governance; trade and investment; security and countering violent extremism; science and technology; women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The Under Secretary of the US will lead a roundtable with labor, industry, and Government officials of Bangladesh to discuss the safety standards in the garment sector in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza tragedy.

The visiting team will meet the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, and the leader of the opposition, Khaleda Zia.

Earlier at a press conference held at the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni clarified that the letter written by Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique to the US envoy Dan Mozena was not an official Government document, but a personal communication of the Minister with the US Ambassador.

The letter was in response to the US envoy’s recent suggestions, including an emphasis on the urgent need to pressurize the readymade garment (RMG) factory owners of Bangladesh to introduce trade unions rights among the workers.

In his letter, Mr. Siddique said that the comments made by the US Ambassador might not match with his diplomatic status.

It said that Ambassador Mozena should let the Bangladesh Government decide for itself whether trade unions should be introduced in the RMG industries or not.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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