‘Secret’ US tariff deal virtually signed, but 5 officials suddenly visit Washington before election!

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh’s counter-tariff trade agreement with the United States will be signed in Washington on Monday, February 9. Although the agreement is being concluded virtually, a five-member team led by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Khadija Nazneen is going to Washington in person, raising questions and criticism.

US Trade Representative (USTR) Jameson Greer will sign the agreement on behalf of the United States. Trade Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman will participate and sign virtually on behalf of Bangladesh.

The Commerce Secretary said the advisor has already signed a copy of the agreement in Dhaka, and the team going to Washington will take the signed document so that it can be finally implemented.

The members of the team are Commerce Ministry Joint Secretaries Firoz Uddin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary Sheikh Shamsul Arefin, and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Commissioner Raish Uddin Khan.

The Government Order (GO) issued by the Ministry of Commerce on February 3rd states that the team will leave Dhaka on February 6th and return by February 10th. Despite the agreement being in a virtual format, there is no clear explanation regarding the need for the physical presence of the team.

Internal sources and rumors in the ministry are saying that this is a ‘group trip abroad’ or an unnecessary trip in the last days of the government. Many see it as a waste of money, as the main signing of the agreement is taking place virtually and high-ranking officials are not going.

Previous reports about the deal mentioned that it was ‘secret’ in nature—detailed terms were not disclosed due to the signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in June 2025.

Currently, there is a possibility of reducing the US counter-tariff from 20% to 15%, so that Bangladesh’s garment exports can remain competitive (especially after the recent agreement with India). However, there is talk that the agreement may include conditions on digital trade, rules of origin, national security, reducing imports from China, purchasing US military equipment, etc.

Already, the purchase of Boeing from the United States for 37 billion taka, along with the purchase of LNG and wheat at high prices, is being heavily criticized across the country.

The signing of the agreement just three days before the upcoming February 12 national elections has raised concerns among business, economists, and political circles.

Business leaders say the interim government should not have taken such long-term decisions; questions have been raised about whether the elected government is being tied down. There has been criticism of the lack of transparency and the rush to make the decision.

In this context, many are considering the five bureaucrats’ visit to Washington unnecessary and controversial, which is giving rise to new discussions in the government’s final days.