Writ petition challenges legality of Bangladesh-US trade deal during interim govt
The petition seeks judicial intervention to safeguard broader public interest.
A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (RTA) signed between Bangladesh and the United States on 9 February.
Supreme Court lawyers Mohammad Maidul Islam Polok and Subir Nandi Das filed the writ today (4 May).
Advocate Maidul described the agreement as manifestly unreasonable and structurally imbalanced, arguing that it harms Bangladesh's national interest and the wider public.
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The petition, filed on behalf of the general public, seeks 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 secretaries of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Commerce have been named as respondents.
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.
Petitioner's counsel Subir Nandi Das said that the matter is likely to be mentioned for hearing later today before the High Court bench comprising Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Devasish Roy.
