Bangladesh to seek clarification from US regarding Blinken's comment on garment workers: Shahriar Alam

Bangladesh would seek clarification from the US over Secretary of State Antony Blinken's comment on garment worker Kalpona Akter, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the foreign ministry after his meeting with the Commonwealth pre-election assessment team, Alam said, "The statement is not at all Bangladesh specific as some media have made it out to be. It wasn't anything specific to the garment industry or the textile industry at all. It was an effort to make labour rights stronger within the United States."

Previously on 16 November, while announcing a new Presidential Memorandum on labour rights, US State Secretary Antony Blinken had said, "We want to be there for people like Kalpona Akter, a Bangladeshi garment worker and activist, who says that she is alive today because the US embassy advocated on her behalf."

Regarding the issue, Shahriar Alam said, "We will definitely ask the US about this in the next meeting. If my memory serves me right - Kalpona Akter was arrested only once in Bangladesh in 2010. She was not the only one; several other labour leaders were also arrested. Later, the case against them was withdrawn.

"What Kalpona Akter was quoted saying was she felt threatened for us or someone else. Kalpona never told anyone in Bangladesh that she felt threatened. Of course, we want to know what the truth is," he added.

Stating that Bangladesh and the United States have already come a long way bilaterally, the state minister for Foreign Affairs said, "It's been a year since the United States appointed a Labor Attaché in its embassy in Bangladesh and we approved it."

'Participation of any particular party not mandatory to make elections acceptable'

Referring to the opposition party BNP, Shahriar Alam said the participation of any party in particular is not mandatory to make the elections acceptable.

"Participation of all parties adds to the beauty of elections. A terrorist political party who does not believe in the independence of Bangladesh, or the constitution of Bangladesh; there is no need to show off or add to the beauty of the election with such them there."

"The last day to submit nomination forms is 30 November. It is open for anyone to come to the polls till that day. It is also open for anyone to withdraw from the elections," he added.

Regarding the discussion with the Commonwealth delegation, he said, "It is a pioneering mission like any other. They will report back based on their experiences. [But] Time is too short."

"They will try to give the report very quickly. It depends on the decision of the Commonwealth officials whether they will come [to observe the JS polls] or not," he added.

Shahriar Alam said, "We have expressed hope that they would come. We have ensured that we will provide them with the logistical support they need.

"I spoke to them not only about the elections. We are in contact with the Commonwealth on many other issues. We will continue to cooperate on issues like migration, women's empowerment or climate change," said the minister.