The Head of Delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, dropped a broad hint Monday that for Bangladesh achieving the GSP-plus trade facility on the EU market would be a challenging task.
"This will not be picnic," he said while explaining the challenges Bangladesh may face in negotiating with the EU under the new trading system after graduating from the LDC status.
The top diplomat of the bloc noted that Bangladesh's aspiration for the GSP-plus would require to be matched with a series of tough do's, including compliance with regulations on human rights, environmental rights and labour rights.
He made the observations while interacting with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) in Dhaka on an array of current issues of common concern.
The EU ambassador, however, appreciated the efforts of Bangladesh in addressing the challenges. He said the country already had ratified some regulations tagged with the facility and is working on to meet other requirements.
Mr Whiteley pledged EU support to Bangladesh in achieving the facility but also made it clear that the Union is closely monitoring the implementation process of the conditions binding the trade-preference facility.
Responding to a question on EU position on the next general election in Bangladesh, the envoy categorically said that the EU along with other international partners would closely follow the election process.
"Election is not an event, it's a long process. We will be following this closely. Why do we follow it closely - not to interfere but because the international community is very interested in what happening in Bangladesh, which is in strategic position and is a developing powerhouse," he added.
"Everybody has a stake in what happening in that election," the EU ambassador explained.
Responding to another question, he said that the European Union was deeply concerned over the 'attack' on the Hindus.
Backing the government announcement to ensure protection for the minority communities, he said the EU wants to see that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
The diplomat said there are many credible human rights organisations in Bangladesh who put together data on domestic rights situation
"We have good discussion with Bangladesh and with other partners on human rights and democracy," he told the diplomatic correspondents.
Almost all states now recognise some degree of scrutiny of human- rights records, "so that's why we have universal periodic review (UPR) in Geneva and every state undergoes the UPR and Bangladesh of course is no exception and the government of Bangladesh accepted some of the recommendations of the UPR".
On the EU stance on Myanmar's atrocities against Rohingyas, he said the EU has been very tough regarding the human-rights violations in Myanmar.
Many individuals were sanctioned for committing atrocities and development programmes were suspended, he mentioned.
But he pointed out that the everything-but-arms (EBA) facility was not suspended considering specially the fact that it may harm the common people, especially the garment workers there.
The EU wants access to the Rakhine state and wants to ensure accountability for atrocities, he added.
Whitely stressed the need for international community to rally around to find out a solution to the Rohingya crisis, but admitted "that is not happening".
According to him some powerful countries which have influence on Myanmar are creating obstacles in putting the required pressure on Myanmar to resolve the situation.
"We are working to maintain the pressure," he said.
Responding to a question on the Indo-Pacific strategy, he said that the European Union, like many of its partners, believes that freedom of navigation is the key to ensuring free and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.
As the EU has the largest investment in the Indo-Pacific region and it is the largest development partner in the area, it is working with its partners in the region, including Bangladesh, to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific area, he explained.
He brushed aside the notion that the EU strategy aimed at China, saying since China is a strategic partner of the EU, its policy has nothing to do with China.
About post-Brexit equation with the UK he said that the EU has 'extremely close' ties with the UK and both are working together on trade cooperation and on many global issues.
DCAB President Pantho Rahman chaired the session, initiated by its secretary AKM Moinuddin.
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