Shahriar urges UK to create fund to continue RMG imports from Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam suggested that the UK create a Covid-19 fund to bail out the British brands or retailers so that they can continue with their imports from Bangladesh.

He made the recommendation during a telephone conversation with Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK State Minister for South Asia and Commonwealth in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Monday, said a press release. 

The state minister for foreign affairs said the fund can also be used to help the workers sustain their families.

Lord Ahmad agreed that action needs to be taken in this regard.   

During the discussion, Shahriar raised the issue of confirmed orders of readymade garment exports from Bangladesh to the UK being cancelled by the British brands and retailers.

He highlighted that orders amounting to around $300 million have been cancelled or postponed by UK buyers, putting the livelihoods of close to a million workers in Bangladesh in jeopardy.

Lord Ahmad and Shahriar agreed to work together in World Health Organization to find a solution for the global crisis over Covid-19.

The ministers also discussed how the Commonwealth can play an important role globally in the post Covid-19 world.

The two ministers also discussed the issue of the Rohingya crisis.

Lord Ahmad praised the humanitarian gesture by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in providing shelter to 1.1 million Rohingya people who have been persecuted in their own country by their own state machinery.