Govt assures EU delegation of free, fair, participatory polls
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has assured the visiting delegation of the European Union that the 12th parliamentary election will be free and fair with the participation of all political parties.
“EU did not ask for any question about election. But we have told them that environment is necessary for a free and fair election. Today the schedule will be announced. All parties will vie for it,” he said.
The Foreign Secretary said this in reply to a question from the journalists at the State Guest House Padma on Wednesday after a meeting with the European Union’s (EU) Everything But Arms (EBA) review mission.
Regarding the RMG workers protest and unrest in garment factories, Masud Bin Momen said that labour rights and human rights must be strictly followed to get the GSP+ facility.
“They did not ask anything about the minimum wage of the workers. They have said that they have different views about the wage hike of 56 per cent. They have already sat with different stakeholders,” he said.
“The current workers demonstration has happened after four to five years. It has no connection with the political environment or election.
It is a coincidental issue,” he said. Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti
Ghosh and Labour Secretary Md Ehsan E Elahi were also present in the meeting.
The Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh said that the EU was developing a framework for GSP+ facility and he has requested them to include the RMG industry in the facility.
“About 86 per cent of our total exports are readymade garments. Therefore, I have requested that the garment products should be included under the GSP+ facility,” the commerce secretary said.
Labour Secretary Md Ehsan E Elahi said, “Seven to eight issues from the recommendations of ILO were not included in the amended Labour Law passed by the parliament. The EU wants to know the reason.
We have informed them that when the Labour Law will amend again in the future, these will be included.”
