Maijdee (Noakhali) Correspondent

Left-leaning and progressive political, social, and cultural organizations today demanded the immediate cancellation of the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed with the United States, calling it "unequal" and "against national interests."

Speaking at a representative meeting organized by the Anti-Imperialism and Anti-War Alliance at the Maijdee Press Club on Tuesday afternoon, leaders also urged the government to refrain from leasing out the Chattogram Port and to drastically minimize reliance on foreign corporations for oil and gas exploration. Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Noakhali district unit President Shahid Uddin Babul presided over the session.

Alliance leaders strongly criticized the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus for signing the 15-year international trade treaty on February 9, 2026, just three days before the 13th national parliamentary election. They argued that the constitutional and ethical mandate of an unelected interim administration is strictly limited to managing routine administrative duties and facilitating national elections, and it does not hold the authority to sign a long-term international pact that binds and obligates future elected governments.

The speakers noted that while initial discussions suggested the deal would only focus on mutual tariff reductions, the final terms include sweeping, one-sided clauses that threaten the country's domestic economy, agriculture, national security, and sovereignty.

The meeting was addressed by prominent political figures, including central secretariat member of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Basad) Nikhil Das, central member of Basad (Mahbub) Mohinuddin Chowdhury Liton, central member of Samyabadi Andolan Monzur Alam Mithu, central committee member of CPB Sukanta Shafi Kamal, and central executive forum member of Basad (Marxist) Bitul Talukdar. Local organizers Tarakeshwar Devnath Nantu, Anwarul Haq, and Tapan Ghosh also spoke at the event.

Highlighting their ongoing demonstrations, central leader Mohinuddin Chowdhury Liton revealed that the alliance has already marched toward the National Parliament in Dhaka, submitted a formal memorandum to the Speaker, and dispatched open letters to all 300 Members of Parliament detailing the risks of the treaty.

The alliance warned that if the government fails to review the agreement and prioritize national interests, they will be forced to roll out an intensive, nationwide agitation and mass-contact program in the coming days.