Bangladeshi stalls showcase products of China, Myanmar; stalls said to be sold by some businessmen, govt officials
Some businessmen in connivance with government officials had sold stalls designated for Bangladeshi products at the five-day first China-South Asia Expo held in Kunming, China. The stalls ended up showcasing Chinese and Myanmarese products.
Bangladesh was the theme country for the expo, held between June 6 and June 10, and 120 stalls were allocated to the Export Promotion Bureau, FBCCI, DCCI and some textile entrepreneurs for a small charge at premium locations at the venue to showcase Bangladeshi products.
Seeking anonymity, a Bangladeshi participant at the expo in a letter to The Daily Star, said, “Worse still, in one of the theme pavilions of Bangladesh that I assume was owned by the EPB [Export Promotion Bureau] a large number of visitors gathered to see some fashionable Chinese-made furniture.”
“All South Asian countries, except Bangladesh, impressively showcased their products. Even the Afghan and Pakistani stalls were better than ours,” said the expo participant.
Other than ruining the opportunity to show the country’s products to other nations, the episode tarnished the image of Bangladesh, the expo participant said.
Although some stalls showcased Bangladeshi products, the exhibitors were subjected to questions about the “unethical practices of their fellow colleagues”.
The participant said, “The scam should be investigated and the EPB, FBCCI, DCCI, Textile Association, the Bangladesh Embassy including the commercial consular in Beijing and the other stakeholders should be made accountable.”
Muhammad Azizul Haque, ambassador to China, said at least six of the stalls assigned to Bangladesh had Chinese and Myanmarese products.
“I do not know whether those stalls were sold. It is indeed a matter that should be investigated,” he told The Daily Star over the telephone.
He claimed that Bangladeshi exhibitors’ products were sold out in the first two days of the exhibition and that the stall holders might have rented them out to Chinese and Myanmrese businessmen for the remainder of the expo.
“Still, I spoke to the expo’s organisers in this regard,” he said, without mentioning details of the conversation.
Habibur Rahman Hosainy, deputy director of EPB (Fair), also said some stalls had not displayed Bangladeshi products for the entire duration of the expo. “I do not know whether the stalls were rented out in exchange for money.”
He claimed that no anomalies took place in the case of the stalls allocated to the EPB.
Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said, “The FBCCI was allocated 26 stalls and someone has sold out some stalls but I do not know who.”
Sabur Khan, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(DCCI), who had attended the expo, said no anomalies took place at the 10 stalls assigned to the DCCI. “But, I know some stalls were sold during the expo.”
Source: The daily Star
