Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged Belgium and Luxembourg to extend the tariff and quota-free access for Bangladeshi goods to their markets under the Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme until the year 2032.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, quoting the prime minister, stated, “Extend the EBA facility till 2032 instead of 2029 as graduation should not be punished but rather rewarded.”
Prime Minister Hasina made this request during recent bilateral meetings with Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. These meetings took place at the FPS Chancellery of the Prime Minister and the Bilateral Meeting Room of her residence in Brussels.
During these discussions, Prime Minister Hasina emphasised that Bangladesh is on track to transition from a least developed country (LDC) status to a developing nation in 2026. She also highlighted the challenges faced by Bangladesh due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts.
In light of these difficulties, she appealed for the continuation of EBA facilities for an additional three years beyond 2029, emphasising that these European Union facilities play a crucial role in Bangladesh’s development.
Prime Minister Hasina further requested Belgium to consider making substantial investments in Bangladesh.
During these meetings, the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Luxembourg praised Bangladesh’s remarkable development over the past 15 years under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
