BFTI Organized an FGD on Anti-Export Bias and Trade Remedy Issues

Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the studies titled ‘Impact Assessment of Anti-Export Bias on Export Diversification of Bangladesh’ and ‘Trade Remedy Issues (Anti-dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard Measures): Constraints and Way Forward in Bangladesh’ on 11 May 2026. The event was held at the Academic Block of BFTI in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka.

Dr. Saif Uddin Ahammad, Chief Executive Officer (Additional Charge), BFTI and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, chaired the programme. In his opening remarks, Dr. Saif Uddin Ahammad expressed his sincere appreciation to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) for entrusting BFTI for conducting the studies. He also extended his gratitude to all participants for their valuable presence and engagement at the event. Dr. Ahammad noted that the study on Trade Remedy Measures examined the key constraints relating to anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures, along with possible policy and institutional reforms to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade remedy framework. He further highlighted the preliminary findings of the study on anti-export bias and emphasized the need for institutional and policy reforms to reduce anti-export bias, enhance export diversification, and improve Bangladesh’s export competitiveness and institutional capacity.

The workshop was honoured by the presence of Mr. Md. Enamul Haque, Member (Joint Secretary), Trade Remedies Division, BTTC, as the Chief Guest. Mr. Md. Mamun-Ur-Rashid Askari, Joint Chief, International Cooperation Division, BTTC, and Mr. Md. Moshiul Alam, Joint Chief, International Cooperation Division, BTTC, attended the workshop as discussants. Mr. Md. Abdul Latif, Deputy Chief, Trade Remedies Division, BTTC, and Project Director of the studies, delivered his remarks at the opening session.

The keynote presentation on Trade Remedy Issues (Anti-dumping, Countervailing and Safeguard Measures): Constraints and Way Forward in Bangladesh was delivered by Mr. H. M. Simon, Research Manager, BFTI, while the keynote presentation on Impact Assessment of Anti-Export Bias (AEB) on Export Diversification of Bangladesh was delivered by Ms. Ayesha Siddika, Senior Research Officer, BFTI.

The session brought together officials from various government agencies, as well as representatives from the private sector. The FGD workshop was followed by an interactive Q&A session moderated by Mr. Harunur Rashid, Research Manager, BFTI. Participants from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, BIDA, BTTC, Walton Group, NBR, BKMEA, Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), FBCCI, DCCI, BTMA, Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, Accumulator Battery Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh and Tasnim Chemical Complex Ltd exchanged their thoughtful views and opinions during the event.

The session concluded with closing remarks by Dr. Md. Abdul Khaleque, Consultant of the studies and Associate Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka.