Anu Muhammad calls last-minute US deal 'act of slavery', demands cancellation

Economist Anu Muhammad has termed the secret agreement signed between the interim government and the United States just three days before the national election as an "act of slavery", warning that it poses a grave threat to Bangladesh.

He alleged that the interim administration acted beyond its mandate and left the country "with hands and legs tied".

Questioning the timing of the deal, Anu said, "The agreement was signed on 9 February and the election was held on 12. There is a Bangla phrase, 'Noy-Chhoy' [trick], and this government has literally done that.

"The interim government had no moral authority to rush into such a dangerous agreement right before the election. They could have told the US that an elected government was coming and to negotiate with them."

He made the remarks today (19 February) while speaking as chief guest at a discussion titled "Bilateral Free Trade Agreement and Bangladesh's Gains and Losses", organised by Bangladesh LDC Graduation Watch at the National Press Club in Dhaka.

Referring to what he described as an inducement, Anu Muhammad said Bangladesh had been offered the lure of duty-free access for garment exports.

"In exchange, we are being compelled to purchase US cotton, GM food, weapons and Boeing aircraft. Through this agreement, Bangladesh's agriculture, public health and security systems are being exposed to long-term risks," he said.

"No previous government has signed such a dangerous agreement. It means tying Bangladesh's hands, head and eyes – such a deal has never happened before," he added.

Anu said during the tenure of the interim government, he and others had demanded accountability for those involved in the agreement.

"They must be brought under investigation and held accountable. For the sake of proper investigation, they should not be allowed to leave the country," he said.

Expressing concern over recent appointments, he said, "We now see that one of those individuals has been entrusted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is extremely risky and alarming. We did not ask for that. We demanded an investigation in the interest of accountability."

He further alleged, "Those who showed particular enthusiasm in pushing this agreement appeared to be acting not as advisers or special assistants, but as lobbyists for foreign companies. Many of them are not even Bangladeshi citizens. If Bangladesh suffers for the next 50 to 60 years because of this agreement, we will not be able to ask them why they did it."

Calling on the newly elected government, he said, "If 'Bangladesh first' is truly the commitment, then the first task should be to protect the country from this anti-national agreement."

Speaking at the event, Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua highlighted what he described as legal inconsistencies in the agreement.

He said, "Article 145 (Ka) of our Constitution clearly states that all treaties concluded with foreign states must be submitted to the president, who shall place them before parliament. Yet, such a major agreement has been made without public consultation and without informing people. This amounts to an unfair or unequal agreement."

Questioning the secrecy surrounding the deal, he added, "One key feature of these agreements is that they are rushed through within a short period and kept confidential. We have also heard that non-disclosure agreements are involved, meaning neither party can make them public at will. Could there be such a transaction, such a secret matter with the state?"

The event was moderated by Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog, while the keynote paper was presented by Barkat Ullah Maruf, coordinator of Bangladesh LDC Graduation Watch.