Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman today defended Bangladesh’s reciprocal trade agreement with the US, urging critics to assess the deal in a broader global context and compare it with similar agreements signed by other countries.
He made the remarks after a meeting in Dhaka with a US delegation led by Brendan Lynch, assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia.
Responding to a question about the deal’s conditions, the foreign minister said public discussion on such agreements is important.
He said the debate was welcome, adding that Bangladesh was not the only country to sign such an agreement.
He cited examples, noting that countries like Indonesia have agreed to even more stringent provisions.
“So, when you read Bangladesh’s agreement, you should read it alongside those of Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and others. That way, you will be able to better understand the context,” he added.
Responding to a question regarding the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement -- stalled since 2011 due to objections from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the foreign minister said Bangladesh does not want to sit idle waiting for India’s initiative.
“Look, a government has not yet been formed in West Bengal, and what they are thinking or planning is for them to say. It is not my job to read their minds,” he said.
“Of course, there will be expectations that the agreement reached earlier could be reconsidered in the current context. But we cannot remain idle; we have to carry on with our own work,” he added.
‘A state-level agreement is not like a personal contract’
Following the meeting with Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the Bangladesh-US trade agreement should be used for mutual benefit, stressing that there was no reason for concern over the deal.
The minister said international agreements are always based on mutual cooperation.
He noted that the current government did not initiate the agreement but inherited it as part of state continuity.
“A state-level agreement is not like a personal contract that can be cancelled at will. It is a reality, and we want to use it to expand trade and investment in the country,” Muktadir added.
On the possibility of cancelling the agreement with the US, the commerce minister said the government, as the elected representative of the people, always prioritises national interest.“If any clause in the agreement goes against Bangladesh’s interests, there is scope for amendment within the agreement itself. It has a self-correcting mechanism,” he said.
