Trade deal with US challenged in HC

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the reciprocal trade agreement between Bangladesh and the United States, describing it as “unreasonable,” structurally imbalanced and contrary to Bangladesh’s national interests.

Advocate Mohammad Maidul Islam Palak filed the petition with the relevant High Court bench.

The bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury is expected to hear the matter.

The secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce have been made respondents in the case.

According to the petition, the agreement fails to safeguard Bangladesh’s economic sovereignty and public welfare, and was signed without complying with constitutional procedures.

It also raises concerns over what it describes as an “unequal tariff structure” imposed on Bangladesh, restrictions on policy-making autonomy, and possible adverse impacts on local industries, agriculture and the environment.

The Agreement on Reciprocal Tariff between Bangladesh and the United States was signed on February 9 by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration.

Negotiations on the agreement reportedly continued for around nine months, beginning in April last year.