Why has a tariff agreement with the US been kept under wraps by Dhaka, asks Emran Emon

On July 15, a special report published by the daily Bangla Outlook exposed the full text of a confidential letter from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to the Government of Bangladesh.

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The letter laid out an expansive reciprocal trade and security agreement—now proven to be signed under a strict non-disclosure agreement (NDA)—that has sparked outrage, concern, and fear across the nation. The 21-page agreement unveils a wide array of binding commitments imposed on Bangladesh, many of which appear to bypass national interest in favor of foreign agendas.

Instead of receiving answers, the public witnessed an act of quiet suppression: multiple departments of the interim government reportedly pressured the editor of Bangla Outlook to retract the report. This single event, combined with the contents of the deal, raises grave questions: What price is Bangladesh paying for external appeasement? And why must freedom of the press be sacrificed to protect a foreign agenda?