Leaders of the Anti-imperialist and Anti-war Alliance, a newly formed combine, at a protest rally in Dhaka on Saturday called on the government to scrap the ‘unequal’ trade deal signed with the United States during the interim government.

Calling for cancelling the deal, the platform of several left political parties organised a rally in front of the National Press Club with its coordinator Bazlur Rashid Firoz in chair.

Former president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh Mujahidul Islam Selim termed the deal ‘unequal’ and contrary to the national interests, saying that it would principally benefit the US.

He also called for people’s resistance movement to save Bangladesh.

Bazlur Rashid Firoz announced next programmes of the combine, including march towards the parliament on April 27 to hand over memorandum to the speaker,  demanding scrapping of the trade deal, and holding countrywide mass contacts in April 16–22.

Samyabadi Andolan coordinator Shubhrangshu Chakrabortty also called on the left and democratic political parties to wage movement against the ‘unequal’ trade deal.

Left leader Iqbal Kabir Jahid, Mushtuq Husain, Mushrefa Mishu, among others, attended the rally, followed by a protest procession.