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BGMEA Administrator

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Saiftir blushes at ministry move
Finance and Planning Minister M SaifurRahman yesterdayapparently felt embarrassed about the commerce ministry's move appointing an administrator to replace the elected leadership of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
"Appointment of an administrator to a trade body is uncalled for. I have to explain such moves in foreign countries," a meeting source quoted Saifur as saying when a three-member BGMEA delegation met him in Dhaka.
The BGMEA team led by its President Annisul Huq met the
prescheduled meeting to discuss Bangladesh's strategy to lobby for tabling a bill in the US Senate for duty-free access to its market.
Tblking to The DailyStarlater, the BGMEA chief said, "We are trying hard through our lobbyist group for placing the bill in the US Senate sometime late in this month. The government is providing support for thecampaign.”
The finance minister pledged all possible help to get duty-free access toUSmarket, Annisul said.
Of the S5.68 billion earnings from apparel export in fiscal 2003-2004, SI.62 billion came from US, FROM PAGE 12
Bangladesh's second largest apparel market after the European Union, he mentioned.
Bangladesh's apparel export to US is declining over the last few years. As there is no quota facility now, garment exporters feel that duty-free access to US market could help Bangladesh greatly increase its ready-made garment export to the world's largest economy.
The BGMEA delegation brought to Saifur's notice issues like 'derogatory' GSP (generalised system of preference), services at Chittagong port and customs. The minister assured them of all cooperation from the government side, delegation sources said.
Annisul recalled that it was Saifur Rahman whose decision in 1991 (finance minister also then) to lift investment embargo on garment sector had led to a boom in the industry, eventually turning the sector into the highest export earner. In 1989-1990, an embargo on new investment in garmentsectorwas imposed.
Meanwhile, Annisul yesterday filed an appeal with the District and Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka, against a lower court order on January 3 regarding appointment of an administrator to the BGMEA
Judge Mohammad Rafiqul Islam fixed today for hearing on the accept-abilityoftheappeal.
The commerce ministry on
Thursday appointed an administrator to the country's largest trade body following the lower court ruling.
The High Court on Sunday stayed the appointment.