Momen, however, clarified Bangladesh has not been informed of any such US decision.
US sanctions on Bangladesh, if imposed, will pose no problem, the latter’s foreign minister AK Abdul Momen recently said.
Commerce minister Tipu Munshi, meanwhile, asserted that US and European efforts to hinder Bangladesh’s garment exports will finally prove futile.
Momen, however, clarified Bangladesh has not been informed of any such US decision.
US secretary of state Anthony Blinken recently said countries violating labour rights may face US sanctions.
“The workers of the US were heavily repressed during the period of their economic development. Contrary to that, the conditions of our workers during our present economic development are much better,” Momen was quoted as saying by Bangladesh media outlets.
“Even a century ago, a worker [in the United States] got only 20 cents for working 18 hours a day,” he noted.
“The per capita income of the US is 65,000 dollars, while it is only 2,800 dollars in our country. So, in terms of per capita income, the condition of our workers is far better than in the US,” Momen pointed out.
Bangladesh cannot afford to provide facilities to workers like those in European countries or the United States overnight, he added.
He urged Western buyers to buy Bangladesh’s garment products at higher prices so that the additional amount will be spent for the welfare of the workers.
“Politics and business are distinct spheres. They [the US and European countries] will not do anything that jeopardises Bangladesh’s garment industry,” Musnhi said, urging apparel entrepreneurs not to worry about the US memorandum on labour rights.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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