Bepza assures US envoy of limited trade unionism
Staff Correspondent
The chairman of Bangladesh Export Promotion Zones Authority (Bepza) yesterday met US envoy in Dhaka Harry K Thomas and informed him of the progress of passing a bill in parliament allowing limited trade union activities in the EPZs (Export Promotion Zones).According to sources, Bepza Chairman Mohammad Zakir Hossain with some high officials talked to Thomas and US embassy labour department officials at the envoy's office at noon. Zakir said the bill would be tabled at the Jatiya Sangsad on July 5 and, hopefully, passed in the current session. The passage of the bill was delayed due to budget discussion, they said. The meeting came on the heels of Monday's warning sounded by Harry that Dhaka may face suspension of trade facilities by Washington unless it passed the bill by June 30. Zakir told The Daily Star in the afternoon that he was convinced that the US officials would understand the reality and allow some more days before sending any negative report to their headquarters on the issue. The bill would be placed on the basis of understanding reached between the Bangladesh government, US embassy and the World Bank. The cabinet approved the draft a few weeks back.
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