Bangladesh’s duty-free market access to the European Union (EU) is becoming questionable as the country’s largest export bloc on Thursday passed a resolution saying that the human rights situation in Bangladesh has severely deteriorated.
Currently, Bangladesh is enjoying duty-free market access to 27 nations under the scheme of Everything But Arms (EBA).
The European Commission will pass a new GSP Plus policy for 2024-2034 and Bangladesh is expecting duty-free market access to the region under the system, though the country is set to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.
Amid the situation, the EU parliament resolution “recalls that an Everything But Arms (EBA) enhanced engagement process remains ongoing with Bangladesh owing to its serious violations of international conventions; is concerned that the Odhikar case is a regrettable step back, bearing consequences as to whether EBA preferences continue to apply to Bangladesh.”
The EU is the largest export destination for Bangladesh and the country earned $25.24 billion by exporting garment products in FY23 while total export earnings were $55.56 billion. The apparel sector earns nearly 50 per cent annually from the market.
A leader of the apex garment makers’ body told The Business Post, “The EU is our export lifeline. The government should address the issue with the EU amicably.”
On Thursday, the Dhaka Cyber Tribunal jailed rights body Odhikar's Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan for two years under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006. After the judgment, the EU parliament passed the resolution.
With the title of resolution “Human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar” the EU parliament said the human rights situation in Bangladesh has severely deteriorated, including with regard to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression and workers’ rights.
It has expressed deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh insisting that the government of Bangladesh restores a safe and enabling environment for NGOs, HRDs, activists and religious minorities and upholds the country’s international commitments, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The EU resolution has also deplored the prison sentence handed down on 14 September 2023 by the Cyber tribunal of Dhaka against Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan, urging the GoB to immediately and unconditionally quash this sentence and reinstate the registration of Odhikar, and ensure that civil society organisations can access approved foreign grants.
“It encourages the GoB to cooperate with the UN on establishing a specialised mechanism to investigate the allegations of enforced disappearances and insists that international observers be permitted to attend court hearings.”
The European Union is “appalled by the violent murder of trade unionist Shahidul Islam in June 2023 and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, urges the GoB to comply with core International Labour Organization standards and implement its labour roadmap as per its commitment within the enhanced engagement process.”
The EU calls again on the government of Bangladesh to “repeal the Digital Security Act and encourages it to adopt cyber-security legislation that fully complies with international standards; is concerned by the mass arrests of opposition representatives and the excessive use of force against protesters in Bangladesh, calls on the GoB to guarantee the conditions for free, fair and participatory elections in 2024, underlines that unhindered domestic and international observation is a key international standard.”
“It calls on the European External Action Service, the EU Delegation and the Member States’ embassies in Bangladesh to raise human rights concerns at the highest levels and increase their support for local HRDs, union workers and journalists under attack, including by monitoring trials.”
“Instruct its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Government and Parliament of Bangladesh,” according to the resolution.
