South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta), which is to be effective from January 1, 2006, will help the Saarc member countries to start free trade among them. But this will not bring any benefit for the least developed countries like Bangladesh. As the trade liberalisation programme will not apply to the sensitive product list, it will not basically bring any benefit for our country. Our main exporting item is ready-made garments (RMG). If it is in the list of sensitive product of India, what will be exported? It is expected that India will allow RMG if Bangladesh imports the raw materials from it. From this condition India is doing business again. As much RMG will be exported to India as the raw materials must be imported from it. India has made a list of sensitive products, which includes 763 items for LDCs. If tariff barrier is imposed on such huge products, what is the meaning of free trade? This is beneficial for India and this will benefit only India.India is occupying our market regarding all products from cosmetics to daily necessities. Most of the products are coming through black market. Somehow India has occupied our markets and through this so-called free trade they will occupy our market legally.
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