BANGLADESH: PM To Discuss Quotas With Clinton Again

The prime minister of Bangladesh is due to meet US President Clinton for a second time on the issue of US quotas. Special assistant to President Clinton, Bruce Riedel, met with Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abul Hasan Chowdhury, and Ambassador K M Shehabuddin at the White House last week. Chowdhury assured Riedel that Bangladesh has eliminated child labour from the ready-made garments sector, despite opposition from the home industry. He said that Bangladesh should be rewarded for the changes it has made. Riedel informed the delegation that President Clinton has instructed his administration to consider GSP facilities to Bangladesh in view of the demand made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The PM had requested President Clinton not to withdraw GSP while they were both attending the UN Millennium Summit in New York.