<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has asked Bangladesh to reduce the&nbsp; subsidies on fisheries.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It came from Dr Okonjo Iwela, director general of WTO, on Thursday when she called on visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the meeting room of Hotel President here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed the reporters about the outcome of the meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He quoted the WTO DG as saying that her organization would like to sign an agreement with Bangladesh in this regard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We said we will consider this (the issue of subsidy)," said Momen adding that Bangladesh does not give heavy subsidies on fisheries though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WTO chief mentioned about the dispute settlement body of the organisation which has remained inactive for a couple of years due to some big countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dr Iwela requested the prime minister to raise the issue when she goes to the G-20 meeting to be held in next September in New Delhi and other international forums, according to Momen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is the main strength of the WTO,” she was quoted as telling the prime minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The WTO DG asked Bangladesh to diversify its expert basket.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In this connection she wanted Bangladesh to put emphasis on pharmaceuticals and IT sector reducing dependency on RMG export, the key foreign exchange earner of the country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regarding fishing in deep sea PM Hasina said that Bangladesh lacks in capabilities in this sector.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She put emphasis on learning from the experience from Japan, Thailand and the Maldives in deep sea fishing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said that she has already talked with the Maldives and Japan in this regard.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Earlier, Qatar’s Labour Minister Dr Ali Bin Samik Al Marri called the prime minister at the same venue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said there are some 3.70 lakh Bangladeshis working in his country.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said that they are satisfied with the performance of the Bangladeshi workers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Qatar has expressed their interest to take more manpower from Bangladesh. They will ink an agreement for this purpose,” Momen said. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>