The Democratic Rights Committee has demanded the immediate cancellation of a trade agreement with the United States by the former interim government.

In an open letter addressed to the prime minister, the Speaker, and members of parliament yesterday, the citizens' platform sought revocation of the deal.

Economist Anu Muhammad, physician Harun-or-Rashid, and Dhaka University Associate Professor Moshahida Sultana signed the letter on behalf of the committee.

The letter criticised the interim government for signing the "disastrous" agreement just three days before the national election in February, keeping the nation in the dark.

Various clauses of the pact pose a severe threat to Bangladesh's commercial sovereignty, economy, agriculture, and national security, according to the left-leaning platform.

"The BNP's election manifesto on foreign policy pledged to protect sovereignty, national interest, and national security. Keeping the US trade agreement intact would be a direct violation of that," the letter read.

The committee also criticised the Jamaat-e-Islami-led opposition alliance in parliament.

"The July Charter, that gets the highest importance to you, clearly stated that any such agreement would require parliamentary approval. Yet, you have not raised a single question in Parliament regarding this disastrous pact," the letter stated, addressing the opposition.

The open letter further mentioned that since the US Supreme Court has declared the “reciprocal tariff” imposed by the US president illegal, the context of this agreement no longer holds any legal validity.

Therefore, if Bangladesh scraps the deal, the US's ability to impose tariffs would be limited.

The platform demanded that the agreement be cancelled with a 60-day notice following detailed discussions in the ongoing parliamentary session.

They also demanded a thorough investigation to identify and bring to justice those involved in signing such an unequal treaty by sacrificing national interests.