‘Dutch buyers won't cancel apparel orders from Bangladesh’

The Netherlands has assured Bangladesh that Dutch buyers will not cancel or suspend their orders from Bangladeshi readymade garment (RMG) factories. 

Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag assured it to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and mentioned that their government would ensure that the RMG value chain would not be disrupted. 

Kaag called Momen on Wednesday to talk about the impact of coronavirus, and to discuss ways forward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed.

In the telephone meeting, Momen raised the issue of cancellation of orders by different European brands and buyers, and pointed out that $3.18 billion worth of orders have already been cancelled or suspended by international buyers, affecting 1,150 factories and 2.28 million workers. 

On the Rohingya crisis, Foreign Minister Momen explained to Minister Kaag that around 500 Rohingyas on two boats are not in or even near the Bangladesh maritime border. 

He pointed out that according to the law of the seas, other countries in the region have responsibilities to save the Rohingyas. 

The Dutch Minister agreed that if Bangladesh continues to rescue boat loads of Rohingyas again and again, then it may encourage Myanmar to push more Rohingyas to the deep sea. 

Momen also raised the issue of the impact of Covid-19 in the Middle East, where huge number of Bangladeshi expatriate workers have lost their jobs. 

He requested the Dutch minister to support Bangladesh in ensuring the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis in the Middle East.