Analysts further said that it is rare for a transitional government to sign such an agreement just three days before elections. He argues that Bangladesh could have requested the US to delay the signing by a few days. Instead, the haste to sign the agreement inevitably raises questions.
Devpriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the private research organization Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told Prothom Alo that this is not just a tariff agreement with the US, but an agreement with long-term implications.
He said it should be viewed holistically, including its geopolitical and political dimensions.
According to Debpriya Bhattacharya, this agreement is not being done through a transparent process and since the draft is confidential, there has not been a chance to assess its advantages and disadvantages.
He further said that although the government initially showed a positive attitude towards setting up a humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, it later backed down after facing setbacks. In contrast, actions such as port-related agreements have been done quietly. If the tariff agreement was signed after the elections, political parties could discuss it. It is also worth considering whether the hands of the incoming elected government are tied?