Dan W Mozena, US ambassador to Bangladesh, visits a Ha-Meem factory at Ashulia yesterday. AK Azad, managing director of the company, was also present. Photo: Ha-meem Group

Dan W Mozena, US ambassador to Bangladesh, yesterday urged the political parties to shun the politics of hartals and violence for the sake of the economy.
Bangladesh has great potential, but foreign investments may get diverted to Vietnam and Cambodia in the face of continued political uncertainty, he said.
He spoke on a visit to the Ha-Meem Group factory in Ashulia near Dhaka.
The political parties need to sit together for meaningful dialogue to resolve their issues and find a way to hold free and fair national elections in the future, he said.
Dialogues need to be held immediately as Bangladesh cannot bear the brunt of hartals and violence, and needs to remain presentable as an investment destination for investors that are turning away from China in the recent times, he said.
On the generalised system of preferences issue, Mozena reiterated its importance for Bangladesh exports, which will suffer a blow in image if the facility were to be cancelled, he said.
Bangladesh needs to respond to the questions raised at the GSP hearing, and showcase their case strongly. Labour rights and the work environment are sensitive issues and vital to the GSP issue, he added.
Retention of the GSP will also help Bangladesh benefit from the quota and tax free trade facilities for the least developed countries, currently being negotiated by World Trade Organisation. If Bangladesh loses its GSP status, it will not be able to fully benefit from the new trade leniencies, Mozena said.
He hopes Bangladesh will come out strong at the GSP hearing, and continue with registrations of worker unions and not take punitive action against workers involved with unions.
Ha-Meem Group has grown into one of the largest garments producing companies in the country since 1986. Almost 80 percent of the company's business is with the US, and mostly with large retailers. The company's annual turnover stands at $300 million.
Mozena praised the Ha-Meem factory for its clean and good working environment.
AK Azad, the group's managing director, showed visitors around the factory premises.