BNP pledges cooperation with government on US tariff issues; business leaders caution against potential market losses

Senior BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said that his party is ready to extend coordinated support to the government in tackling US-imposed tariffs and related security issues.

Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Banani following a meeting with business leaders on the tariff matter, Khosru stressed that the issue directly affects the livelihoods of 1.5 to 1.6 million people connected to Bangladesh’s exports to the US, according to a report by UNB.

The BNP Standing Committee member warned that the recent tariff measures could severely impact the country’s trade and economy. Given the stakes, he said the BNP is willing to cooperate with the government in finding a pragmatic and effective resolution through dialogue with the United States.

Responding to a question, Khosru highlighted that Bangladesh faces stiff competition in the global garment market from India and Vietnam. A failure to resolve the tariff dispute, he cautioned, would give these countries an edge, to the detriment of Bangladesh’s exporters.

He further warned that unresolved tariff issues could lead to massive job losses, shutdowns of industrial units, and disruptions across thousands of backward linkage industries.

The meeting was attended by prominent business leaders, including BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem, former FBCCI President AK Azad, Apex Tannery Ltd Chairman Syed Nasim Manzur, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries Chairman Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, and Pran-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury.