Sovereignty Under Siege: What You Need to Know
Bangladesh signed a trade deal with the USA on 9 February 2026. Here is what that means for you.
Why This Deal Was Signed
The US threatened a 37% tax on Bangladeshi goods in 2025. Our garments sector, which earns 80% of our export income, was at risk. Under that pressure, Bangladesh signed. Pressure is understandable. But what was given away is not.
What Bangladesh Gave Up
- Medicines and food: Bangladesh must now accept US FDA approval as enough. Our own government cannot independently review US drugs or genetically modified crops before they enter our market.
- WTO rights: Bangladesh agreed NOT to challenge US trade policies at the WTO. This is a right every member country has. We signed it away for nothing.
- Our own laws: The US dictated specific changes to Bangladesh's Labour Act. Parliament must now amend our own laws because a foreign country made it a contract condition.
- Nuclear energy: Bangladesh cannot buy nuclear reactors or fuel from any country the US considers a threat, even if that country offers the best deal for us.
- Spectrum and data: Bangladesh must open specific radio frequencies and change its digital regulations to suit US technology companies.
What Bangladesh Did NOT Get
- No guaranteed zero tariff on our garments.
- No independent body to resolve disputes.
- The US faces no equal obligations in return.
The Core Problem
The enforcement runs one way only. If the US feels Bangladesh has not complied, it reimpose the 37% tariff. Bangladesh has no equivalent power over the US.
What Should Happen Now
- The agreement must be placed before Parliament as required by Article 145A of our Constitution.
- Citizens should demand a public Bangla translation of the full agreement.
- An independent economic review must be published before this deal takes effect.
The people of Bangladesh did not authorise this. They deserve to know.
