It will also seek flexibility in the rules of origin of its export items in line with the one offered by Canada to boost trade. Canada allows zero-tariff entry of export items from Bangladesh if local value addition amounts to 25 percent.

The EC is expected to raise a raft of non-economic issues like the formation of an independent anti-corruption commission, separation of the judiciary and setting up of a human rights commission. It will also ask Bangladesh to seriously look into the problems facing the European ships calling at Chittagong and Mongla ports.

A five-member team led by Commerce Secretary Sohel Ahmed will represent Bangladesh at the two-day meet held biannually.

Commerce ministry sources said Bangladesh feels it can diversify its export basket in agriculture products and reduce its trade vulnerability because of over dependence on a single product -- readymade garments.

"If the EC allows such quota facility, it would be a blanket offer to all the least developed countries (LDCs)," said Prof. Mustafizur Rahman, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). "So, Bangladesh will have to face stiff competition in exports of its agriculture produces. It also has to scale its supply constraints to get benefit from any such facility."