There has been debate for some time now about restoration of the GSP status for Bangladeshi goods in the US market. The government ministers and BGMEA leaders claim, Bangladesh has fulfilled all the conditions concerning improvement of working conditions in the readymade garment industry and protecting workers’ interests. There is no justification in not restoring the GSP facilities. On the other hand, the US had said that while working conditions have improved somewhat, there is still a lot more left to do.

Who is correct? Is there any politics involved? If so, who is doing this? The debate arose even strong when the US restored GSP facilities recently to 122 countries. Bangladesh was not on the list, invoking the ire and frustration of many. However, Bangladesh’s name wasn’t supposed to be on the list because it was the list of countries where GSP had been cancelled for procedural reasons. Bangladesh’s was cancelled after Rana Plaza collapsed. It is not only the buying countries that want assurance such a tragedy will not be repeated. The people of Bangladesh too do not want to see such an accident recur.

Earlier, ministers and BGMEA leaders said that Bangladesh was being deprived of GSP due to political motives. On the other hand, addressing a seminar at the National Defence College (NDC), the prime minister’s foreign affairs advisor Gauhar Rizvi said that GSP was not restored as the conditions had not been met. It would be wiser to simply fulfil the demands rather than embroil in debate. Bangladesh will stand to lose if it tries, to place the blame on others’ shoulders.

Sources say the matter of restoring GSP to Bangladesh is under consideration and discussions between the two sides are being held. The government should bring the debate to a logical conclusion. If GSP is restored, we may not be directly benefited, but Bangladesh will enhance its reputation in the field.