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He called the agreement a “US order paper, Trump’s order paper”, with a noose around the Bangladeshi people’s neck.

“The order paper states we cannot conduct our own quality tests. We must accept US standards. If toxic, dangerous, or prohibited products arrive, no questions can be asked. We must buy them at high prices, without imposing tariffs.”

“Unless we reject, resist, and exit this order paper, Bangladesh faces a grave future,” he added.

Prof Anu said the deal was already being implemented through the purchase of Boeing aircraft, LNG imports, and the signing of supplementary agreements.

He warned that agriculture, poultry, and dairy sectors, built over three decades and employing millions, face devastation. He urged people to protest against the agreement for the sake of Bangladesh’s existence, sovereignty, and the lives and livelihoods of its people.

He said revenue losses would be offset by subsidies funded through new taxes on the people.

“The blood of the Bangladeshi people will be used to protect US corporate interests,” he said. “Militarily, politically, and existentially, we are being pushed into dangerous servitude,” he added.

Prof Anu also criticised the government’s stance on the deal, terming it “deeply worrying”.

“This government has shown no proof of sovereignty. It is subjugated to the US and other international powers and has taken anti-people positions. Otherwise, the issue would have been discussed in the last parliamentary session,” he said.

“The country is being run by the US, the Trump administration, the IMF, and corporate interests. This cannot continue. Those elected must be held accountable. The government is bound to answer to the people.”

“Since a US court has already declared Trump’s tariff structure illegal, if the Bangladesh government has even minimal backbone, responsibility, and commitment rooted in the Liberation War, it must find a way to exit this deal,” he added.

He also demanded trial of those responsible for signing the deal and announced a protest rally in the first week of July.

Moshahida Sultana, a member of the platform, garment workers’ leader Mushrefa Mishu, Dhaka University teacher Rushad Faridi, activist Baki Billah, among others, spoke at the rally.