Yunus-era Charter, US trade treaty challenge Dhaka​

New Delhi, April 16 Even before the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) assumed power in February, it looked like the July Charter and the United States trade treaty signed under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government would pose a challenge in the coming days.​

Now, while the Charter is being invoked by Opposition parties as a binding roadmap for democratic reforms, the trade treaty has sparked fierce domestic protests, with critics branding it “unequal” and “anti-national”. Together, they have created a volatile mix of internal political pressure and external diplomatic obligations that the Awami League-led government is struggling to balance.​

Meanwhile, the volatility in West Asia is adding to the economic strain already affecting Dhaka. On Friday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assured the country and asked people not to worry over the crisis, but urged them to exercise restraint and avoid extravagance in state functions and family spending, according to Bangladesh’s Business Standard. ​

Rahman said the government is spending hundreds of crores of taka every day in subsidies in the fuel and energy sector to maintain stability and keep the situation normal.​

The July Charter, signed in October 2025 by more than 20 political parties during the Yunus-led caretaker administration, promised sweeping constitutional and electoral reforms. It was born out of the July 2024 mass uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government. ​

Today, Opposition leaders argue that the Charter obliges the ruling party to deliver on promises of institutional independence and decentralisation. Civil society groups echo this demand, warning that ignoring the Charter risks undermining democratic legitimacy.​

In February, even before Tarique Rahman’s cabinet could assume office, it faced legal challenges over changes adopted by the interim government. ​

BNP members who took the oath as parliamentarians did not swear in as members of the proposed Constitution Reform Council, claiming there is no such provision in the Constitution. They pointed out that Parliament has to convene to carry out constitutional reforms.

The BNP argued that the interim government had bypassed established legal frameworks, undermining legitimacy.​

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party had then taken strong exception to the BNP’s stand. Along with the ally National Citizens Party (NCP), it had announced a boycott of the cabinet swearing-in ceremony over the issue. However, the BNP has not rejected the referendum, in which people voted for a new government and the July Charter in the February polls.​

Now, the Prime Minister has reiterated, say Bangladesh media reports, that the July National Charter – as signed by political parties – will be implemented in full, but warned against attempts to create instability over the issue. ​

In an apparent reference to the Opposition Jamaat, he has stated that those who have received only a small number of votes are now demanding in Parliament that whatever they say must be accepted. ​

Addressing a rally this week, he alleged that Opposition parties are trying to create anarchy in Bangladesh by centring on the implementation of the Charter, media reports added.​

The United States trade treaty, signed three days before the national election, came under criticism for allegedly being against the national interest. Critics claimed that the interim government maintained strict secrecy over the agreement. ​

This week, student unions and some organisations staged demonstrations in Dhaka, calling it a “treaty of servitude”. They again alleged that the deal undermines Bangladesh’s sovereignty over tariffs and labour standards, while the government fears that renegotiation could strain ties with Washington, said reports.​

While the Opposition is using the Charter as an issue to block legislation and demand reforms, the Washington treaty has mobilised unions and student groups, raising the risk of wider unrest. ​

The West Asia crisis has come even as the government was facing the Yunus-era challenges: one internal, rooted in democratic expectations, and one external, tied to global trade diplomacy.​

For the current government, the stakes are high. Failure to navigate these legacies could reignite political instability at home and weaken Bangladesh’s standing abroad.​

--IANS

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