As the United States announced a trade deal with India, neighbouring Bangladesh is witnessing rising unease over a separate trade agreement it is set to sign with Washington on February 9. The agreement, negotiated by the interim Muhammad Yunus administration, has been kept secret under a non-disclosure agreement signed with the US, triggering widespread concern among exporters, economists, and business leaders.
Bangladesh’s garment and textile sector, which accounts for over 90% of its exports to the US and employs millions, fears the undisclosed terms could harm export competitiveness, especially as the industry is already struggling with high tariffs. Critics have also questioned the timing of the deal, as it is being signed just three days before elections, raising doubts over whether the unelected interim government has the mandate to commit the country to a long-term trade agreement.
Economists and political observers have criticised the lack of consultation and transparency, alleging undue foreign influence and warning that the incoming elected government may be bound by decisions it did not negotiate. The deal has also drawn attention amid allegations of US involvement in the 2024 political upheaval that led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
With the contents of the agreement unknown and the interim government nearing the end of its tenure, the Bangladesh–US trade deal has become a major source of anxiety for exporters, industrialists, and policymakers concerned about its long-term economic and political consequences.
