Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said despite being worried about the US sanctions on seven RAB officials, he is hopeful that it will not impact trade between the two countries.
“US is one of our biggest markets and to avoid any trade sanction, we are focusing on our development and the safety of our workers and their rights,” he added.
The BGMEA president made the statement while talking to reporters during a dialogue at Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
He also said that considering the national economy, all political parties should participate in the next election and prioritise the national interest.
“Earlier, some buyers cancelled orders due to political unrest which led to the closure of some factories. So, this time, I request all political parties to arrange programmes peacefully,” he added.
On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on RAB and seven of its present and former top officials for “human rights abuse and repression”. The sanctions were imposed on 15 individuals and 10 entities in total from North Korea, Myanmar, China and Bangladesh.
