Last Updated on May 4, 2026 11:03 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
A Supreme Court lawyer in Bangladesh on Monday filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the legality of the Reciprocal Trade Agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States on February 9.
Advocate Mohammad Maidul Islam Polok filed the petition as a public interest litigation through Advocate Subir Nandi Das, arguing that the “impugned” agreement is manifestly unreasonable, structurally unequal and harmful to Bangladesh’s national interest as well as the public at large.
The petition sought judicial intervention to protect broader public interest and alleged failure by the authorities to safeguard Bangladesh’s economic sovereignty and public welfare during negotiation and execution of the agreement.
The secretaries of the ministries of foreign affairs, finance and commerce have been made respondents.
The petition raised concerns over disproportionate obligations on Bangladesh, adverse tariff arrangements, erosion of regulatory autonomy, and possible harm to domestic industries, agriculture and environmental safeguards.
It also questioned the constitutional validity of the agreement, citing alleged non-compliance with treaty-making procedures under the Constitution, petitioner’s lawyer Subir Nandi Das told journalists.
The matter was expected to be mentioned for hearing before the High Court bench of Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Devasish Roy later in the day, he added.