Bangladesh to seek US clarification over Kalpona Akter comment

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said that they would seek clarification from the United States in the next meeting over Secretary of State Antony Blinken's comment on garment worker Kalpona Akter.

He was replying to a question after his meeting with the Commonwealth pre-election assessment team.

The question came as Blinken made a comment while announcing a new Presidential Memorandum on labour rights.

He had said: "We want to be there for people like Kalpona Akter, a Bangladeshi garment worker and activist, who says that she is alive today because the US embassy advocated on her behalf."

In the next discussion, we will discuss it. We will seek clarification," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said on Tuesday. 

"Kalpona Akter was arrested only once in Bangladesh in 2010. She was also detained in New York while protesting after the Rana Plaza building collapse. In Bangladesh, she successfully established an NGO and is leading it."

The state minister also suggested journalists ask Kalpona Akter whether she told it to the US.

"She didn't say it (life threat) to us," he said.

Regarding the Presidential Memorandum, the state minister said this was not Bangladesh-specific. It's a global intiative.

"There's nothing to be worried about for our garments industry. We are always open to any US initiative. The US embassy appointed labour attache. Bangladesh appreciated it," he said, adding that the US does not get such an opportunity to engage with any other countries who compete with Bangladesh in the RMG sector.