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Bangladesh capable of meeting global needs: FM


Bangladeshpost
Published : 28 May 2020 09:21 PM | Updated : 05 Sep 2020 03:42 PM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh has demonstrated its ability to meet global needs amid coronavirus pandemic by exporting personal protective equipment (PPE) to USA, reports UNB.

“Our businesspeople are very smart. They exported the first PPE consignment so quickly,” he said, reminding that some had mocked the prospect when he first spoke about such opportunities two months ago.

On March 23, Dr Momen told the media that USA had sent a list of 22 items that they would like to import from Bangladesh. 

But many were surprised and said it was impossible, apparently criticising the Foreign Minister on social media. 

Some said a developed country like USA can never ask Bangladesh to supply medical equipment although they know that Bangladesh supplies to USA nearly $6 billion worth of garments annually. 

Though the USA sent a list of 22 items initially, they added three more items to it.

There was discussion about Bangladeshi businesspeople and diplomats where it was conveyed that Bangladesh is capable of exporting 14 items on the US list.

Foreign Minister Dr Momen said Bangladesh is giving these medical supplies not only to the USA but other countries too. We’re sending these to some countries as donation apart from exporting to some countries, he said.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladeshi garment owners made 500,000-600,000 PPE for domestic use within a week when coronavirus was identified in Bangladesh. 

On May 25, Bangladesh joined a select group of countries that manufacture world-class, large-scale PPE by shipping 6.5 million gowns to US brand Hanes, for ultimate delivery to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller attended a function and saw off the first shipment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.