FROM PAGE 3

a certain RMG industry association in Bangladesh recently alerted its members to the risks associated with cotton from China, due to the US allegation of “forced labor in Xinjiang”. He said he also noticed that the alert was issued following a meeting between the association and two representatives from “Indo-Pacific Opportunity Project” affiliated to some US Agency.

“The so-called “forced labor in Xinjiang” is entirely a lie. But why do they lie? It is now circulated on the internet that two US diplomats previously posted in Guangzhou reportedly confessed in 2021.”

Li Jiming then quoted the US diplomats, which is “Nothing is wrong about Xinjiang, but to attack their human right policies is an effective means to make Xinjiang break away from international industrial chain, and to make Uyghurs unhappy, turbulent and then fight against the Chinese government.”

He said this disclosure echoes a statement made by a former high-rank US official in 2018 and showed the video.

“Obviously, Washington uses this lie about Xinjiang to smear and defame China, with the ultimate goal of containing China. The reason why I brought it up here today is that, if Bangladeshi people are not cautious enough, this lie may hurt Bangladeshi RMG industry as well.”

In the end, the Chinese Ambassador questioned: “Don’t you think so?”

According to media reports, Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association has alerted its members on importing fabrics from China for making readymade garments as the US has enacted a law imposing restriction on import of goods made with alleged forced labour from Uyghur in China.

On June 24, following a meeting with two representatives from Indo-Pacific Opportunity Project -- Tim Armstrong and Reza Patwary -- BGBA president KI Hossain warned its members saying that if any buying house produces readymade garment through importing fabrics made with Uyghur cotton and ships it to the US, the whole shipment would be seized and forfeited under the law.