Rumeen Farhana Demands US Trade Deal Debate in Parliament

An independent Member of Parliament has called for the recently signed trade agreement with the United States to be formally presented and debated in Bangladesh’s National Parliament, raising concerns over transparency, timing, and potential implications for national interests.

Rumeen Farhana made the demand during Wednesday’s parliamentary session while speaking on a point of order. She referenced a recent meeting between the US Ambassador and the Commerce Minister, stating that key issues discussed included the persistent trade imbalance between the two countries, Bangladesh’s commitments to increase imports of agricultural and energy-related goods from the United States, and the need for regulatory reforms to improve the investment climate.

According to Farhana, the US Ambassador had also highlighted that Bangladesh exports significantly more goods to the United States than it imports, resulting in a substantial trade deficit. She claimed that this imbalance was cited as a justification for the recently concluded trade agreement aimed at addressing the gap and expanding bilateral economic engagement.

Farhana further raised concerns about the timing of the agreement, noting that it was reportedly signed just days before the country’s thirteenth national parliamentary election. She argued that civil society actors and policy think tanks had previously questioned the legitimacy of an unelected administration entering into such a significant international agreement. In her view, these concerns included the possibility that certain provisions within the agreement may not align fully with Bangladesh’s national economic interests.

She added that there had been expectations the agreement would be deferred until after the formation of an elected government, allowing for parliamentary scrutiny and broader democratic oversight. However, she stated that the agreement was ultimately signed on 9 February by the interim administration, despite such objections.

During her intervention, the Speaker of Parliament, Hafez Uddin Ahmed, interrupted the speech, citing procedural rules. He referred to Rule 301 of the parliamentary procedure, stating that a point of order must relate either to ongoing parliamentary business or to the maintenance of order within the House. He advised that the matter raised constituted a substantive policy issue rather than a procedural one, and therefore should be submitted as a formal notice for consideration.

Farhana briefly requested additional speaking time and reiterated her demand that the agreement be tabled in Parliament. She also noted that, under the terms she referred to, the agreement could reportedly be cancelled within 60 days if the government so chose.

Key Issues Raised in Parliament

The exchange underscored growing political sensitivity surrounding international trade agreements and the demand from some lawmakers for greater parliamentary oversight over executive economic decisions.