US trade deal challenged in HC

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the legality of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) signed between Bangladesh and the United States during the immediate past interim government on February 9.

Supreme Court lawyers Mohammad Maidul Islam Polok and Subir Nandi Das filed the writ with the related branch of the HC.

The HC bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury is likely to hear on the petition within short period.

The secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, finance ministry and commerce ministry have been made respondents to the writ petition.

Advocate Maidul described the agreement as manifestly unreasonable and structurally imbalanced, arguing that it harms Bangladesh's national interest and the wider public.

The petition sought judicial intervention to safeguard broader public interest.

It accuses the authorities of failing to protect the country's economic sovereignty and public interest during the negotiation and signing of the agreement.

The petitioner has raised serious concerns over the disproportionate obligations placed on Bangladesh, unfavourable tariff structures, loss of regulatory autonomy, and potential damage to local industries, agriculture, and environmental protections.

It also questions the constitutional validity of the agreement, citing non-compliance with procedural requirements for treaty-making under the Constitution.

According to the writ petition, the trade agreement has failed to safeguard the country's economic sovereignty and public welfare and was signed without following the procedures mandated by the Constitution.

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