Rumeen Farhana calls for scrapping Bangladesh–US Trade Deal in parliament motion

Opposition lawmaker Rumeen Farhana called for the cancellation of what she described as a “non-beneficial” trade agreement between Bangladesh and the United States, raising the issue in the national parliament.

Speaking during the 24th sitting of the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday (April 29), the Brahmanbaria-2 MP raised the matter under a point of order shortly after the prime minister’s question-and-answer session.

She alleged that the agreement, signed on February 9 ahead of the national election, was concluded by an “unelected government” and contains provisions that may not serve Bangladesh’s national interest.

She also questioned the timing of the deal and said it should have been left for an elected administration to finalise.

Referring to recent discussions between a US envoy and the commerce minister, Farhana said issues such as trade imbalance, import commitments, and policy reforms had been highlighted by the American side.

She argued that Bangladesh’s growing trade deficit with the United States had been a key factor behind the agreement and claimed that several clauses raised concerns among analysts and civil society groups.

However, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed ruled that the issue did not fall within the scope of a point of order under parliamentary rules, noting that such matters require formal notice and proper procedural submission.

He advised the lawmaker to submit a written notice for further consideration.

Seeking additional time, Farhana urged the government to reconsider the agreement and table it in parliament for review, saying it could be annulled if deemed necessary.

The Speaker, however, reiterated that the matter could not be accepted as a point of order, expressing regret over the ruling.