US Congressman Sander Levin arrived in Dhaka on Monday on a three-day visit.
According to the House Ways and Means Committee website, his visit follows the suspension of generalised system of preferences (GSP) trade benefits for Bangladesh in US market “because of its failure to meet labor eligibility criteria”.
He is a Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee that has jurisdiction over all tax, trade and economic growth policies and entitlement spending, including social security, medicare, welfare and unemployment compensation.
Levin has applauded the Obama administration’s decision of GSP decision in June and urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a letter with House Democratic leaders to join in “a comprehensive, concrete and coordinated plan to ensure worker safety and secure workers’ rights in Bangladesh”.
He also called upon nine separate US retailers following worst-ever Savar building collapse to join a global coalition supporting a May 12 Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, developed by the Worker Rights Consortium and a number of key stakeholders.
During the visit, Levin is expected to visit multiple garment factories, meet with factory workers and business leaders as well as high-ranking government officials and non-governmental organisation officials.
According to Foreign Minister Dipu Moni’s schedule, she will meet Levin on Tuesday noon.
Source: Bd news24
