Ticfa meeting: US enquires about labour leader Shahidul murder case

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has enquired about the steps taken by the government to ensure proper trial of the labour leader Shahidul Islam murder case.

The USTR came up with the query during a meeting of the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (Ticfa) between Bangladesh and the US at the InterContinental Dhaka today.

Shahid, 50, the president of the Gazipur unit of Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), was beaten to death outside Prince Jacquard Sweater Ltd in Tongi on June 25.

The visiting delegation also wanted know to about the progress of labour law reforms in the country, Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh told journalists after the meeting.

They also assured Bangladesh that they will consider how to allow duty-free market access to some apparel items exported from Bangladesh to the US made from the imported American cotton, he said.

The USTR also demanded Bangladesh reduce the threshold for workers' consent needed to form trade Unions at factories.

Currently, at least 20 percent of workers' consent is needed to set up trade unions.

On November 25, 2013, the US and Bangladesh signed the Ticfa to establish an annual forum to identify and address obstacles to increasing bilateral trade and investment.