Priority to handicraft oriented trade urged
The New Nation, Bangladesh
Economists, researchers and experts urged the government to give priority handicrafts to oriented trade for the economic development of the country.
They underscored the need for following fair trade policy while importing and exporting goods.
They said, “We have yet to give an institutional form of the craft oriented products. We should introduce an alternative business solution for the betterment of this sector.”
“The country’s economic development can not be possible only by productivity of one sector. There is a lack of identity of products and dignity of businessmen in the country, which is the main obstacle for the fair trade,” they added.
This was said at a launching ceremony of a book titled ‘Fair Trade Practice in Bangladesh’ organised by Ecota Fair Trade Forum (EFTF) in cooperation with GTZ at CIRDAP Auditorium in the city yesterday.
Dr Atiur Rahman, Chairman of Unnayan Samunnay, Dietrich Stotz, Programme Coordinator of GTZ Progress, Dr Salimullah Khan, Professor of Law Department of Stamford University, Prof HKS Arefeen of Department of Anthropology of Dhaka University, Mahfuz Ullah, Chairperson of Centre for Sustainable Development, Abdul Awal, Chairperson of EFTF, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Dr Atiur Rahman said, “Globalisation has created many challenges in front of us in one hand, it brings many opportunities on the other hand. We will have to utilise those opportunities for our future economic development.”
The government has introduced taxes on intermediate goods. But if we want to improve our economy, we will have to give more opportunities for the small traders and importers who are surviving with craft oriented products and bringing a lot of money for the country, he added.
Dr Salimullah Khan said, “We are fighting for the fair trade. In fact, free trade means fair trade. But in the country, there is no fair trade policy. If we do not introduce fair trade, economic development will not be possible.”
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