DHAKA: Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Sunday expressed hope that it would be possible to return the US suspended Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) within April.

The commerce minister, also ruling Awami League lawmaker, made the assertion at a meeting with delegates of Dhaka Chambers at his secretariat office.

He said, “We have almost fulfilled the conditions that the US asked for the continuation of the halted GSP facilities.”

Tofail added: “By fulfilling all conditions we are expecting to get the GSP facilities back by April next.”

On June 27 last year, the US suspended trade privileges for Bangladesh after a six-year review exposed ‘serious shortcomings’ in safety and labor standards.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed and Dhaka Chambers of Commerce and Industries President Mohammad Shahjahan Khan were among others present at the meeting.

BDST: 1655 HRS, JAN 26, 2014