US ready to discuss Ticfa: envoy

Dhaka, Sept 6 Washington has agreed to discuss the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (Ticfa) with Dhaka to have an effective trade framework between the two countries, says Bangladesh Ambassador to US Akramul Qader.

Michael Delaney, Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) and the US negotiator on Ticfa, made the remark in his meeting with Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Qader said.

The minister met the Assistant USTR at Washington on Wednesday.
"We asked for further negotiation and Delaney said they would discuss the issue with Bangladesh," he said.
Dhaka and Washington have been negotiating the issue for four years but are yet to hammer out an agreement.
Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes at a press conference in July said Bangladesh was not responsible for the stalemate in the negotiation, as the US was not interested to negotiate on Ticfa anymore.
An apparently frustrated secretary said: "You just can't come up with a document and say you have to sign it as there is no scope for negotiation."
Ambassador Qader said Delaney was expected to visit Dhaka to discuss entire gamut of trade and investment issues with Bangladesh.
"The minister also discussed duty- and quota-free market access and continuation of GSP facility for Bangladeshi products," he said.
"She told him that the government is quite aware of labour situation in the readymade garment sector where most of the workers are women," he added.
Future framework
The minister and US State Department Deputy Secretary (currently Acting Secretary) William J Burns discussed the future framework of Bangladesh-US relationship.
"Bangladesh and the US are long-time partners and Washington wants to have unfettered cooperation from Dhaka," he said.
Both countries were going to have first formal secretary-level talks on Sept 19-20 where the future framework would be discussed, he added.
When asked what would be the framework, Qader said: "They are working on it."
In the first secretary-level meeting, held under the Partnership Dialogue Agreement, Foreign Secretary Quayes would lead the Bangladesh side, while the US team leader would be Under Secretary for Political Affairs in the State Department Wendy Sherman.
Bangladesh and the US signed the Dialogue deal during the visit of US Secretary of State on May 5 and it stipulates that the countries would have annual consultations under the dialogue to review and give strategic direction to the bilateral ties.
Grameen Bank
The Foreign Minister also informed the Deputy Secretary that the government would not take any action detrimental to the integrity of the Grameen Bank.
"She said the bank is doing very well for the last two years," Qader said.
Hillary Clinton in the second week of August sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing her concern over the recent amendment of the Grameen Bank Ordinance.
Dipu Moni on Sunday told journalists that the concern of the international community over the bank was baseless and the government would engage with them wherever and whenever possible to allay their fears.
Meanwhile, a US embassy media note said Dipu Moni and Deputy Secretary Burns discussed opportunities for expanding bilateral trade.
The secretary also noted US concerns about maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of the Grameen Bank, the critical role of a vibrant civil society and strong democratic institutions to Bangladesh's social and economic development.
(bdnews24.com) –