Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has sought the British lawmakers' support for the continuation of duty-benefit for the country after it graduates from the least developed countries (LDCs) category. He met with UK lawmakers Rushanara Ali and Rupa Huq in London Saturday. They discussed various issues, including cooperation between the UK and Bangladesh on LDC graduation, possible changes in the tariff regime and how Bangladesh can retain its access to the UK market in the post-LDC era. Read: BGMEA chief urges UK buyers to raise prices During the meeting, Faruque stressed the need for engagement of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in the development of the country. He said NRBs have the immense potential to contribute more to Bangladesh's development with their skills, technical expertise, knowledge and investment. Many UK-based NRBs are well-established businessmen, academicians, researchers, and several of them also hold influential positions in governments as politicians and members of parliaments. They can play a significant role in shaping the financial, social and economic conditions of the country, the BGMEA chief said. Read: BGMEA stresses ethical sourcing for sustainable supply chain He sought the cooperation of the two British MPs in encouraging Bangladeshis living in the UK to invest in different potential sectors of Bangladesh, including high value-added and non-cotton textiles. Faruque also informed the British MPs about the strides made by Bangladesh's apparel industry over the years in safety, sustainability and social compliance.

Industrial sector leaders on Saturday urged the authorities concerned to pay more attention to the development of new industrial sectors to face challenges in the post-LDC era.