Farah Zahir
Oniket Research Group
Reading the recently published op-ed by researcher Pavel Partha, titled “Our Unprotected Biodiversity vs. Unequal Trade Agreements,” makes it deeply evident that a rigorous, critical evaluation is imperative to protect our domestic resources and maintain our global edge. Our primary objective must be to meticulously study every regulation and long-term impact of any international deal before signing, ensuring we do not lose our heritage forever. Before seeking validation abroad, we must first become self-sufficient by utilizing our own resources to meet domestic demands. Any bilateral or multilateral trade agreement must strictly favor Bangladesh’s interests, rather than bowing to the pressures or whims of the international market.
We must remember that Bangladesh’s natural wealth and indigenous heritage are not new assets; they have been globally renowned since the British era. During that colonial period, foreign rulers targeted this fertile land, subjected our people to backbreaking labor, and plundered our highly valuable resources to enrich their own empires. From Dhakai Muslin to indigo, silk, and spices, our products were the best in the world. As an independent nation, it is time to reclaim that glory and self-respect. We must showcase our diverse wealth on the global stage so we can stand proud as a leading nation. However, utilizing these traditional resources for our own people and maintaining absolute sovereign control over them remains our foremost duty.
In this context, the legal and commercial dimensions of the recent trade agreements signed with the United States and Japan require urgent, deep scrutiny. Provisions like Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement and UPOV compliance pose a severe threat to our domestic GI (Geographical Indication) products and local farmers’ rights. UPOV primarily shields large corporate breeders, meaning the hard-earned innovations of our local farmers, such as Satkhira’s salt-tolerant ‘Charulata’ rice or Rajshahi’s drought-resistant ‘Noor’ rice, will be stripped of their rightful recognition and legal protection. Furthermore, under the trap of Article 2.4 of the US agreement, multinational corporations could question the unique characteristics of our iconic GI products like Jamdani, Tangail saree, or Sundarbans honey, gaining the legal right to exploit these historic names for their own goods. To stop this corporate biopiracy, the government must immediately reassess these international terms.
Above all, the state must take an uncompromising, iron-fisted stance against those destroying our priceless natural and national wealth. Anyone ruthlessly exploiting the Sundarbans ecosystem, decimating the Sal forests, or clearing local vegetation like the ‘Murta plant’, the very foundation of Sylhet’s traditional Shital Pati, is an enemy of the nation. The government must establish a robust Sui Generis legal framework and mandate maximum exemplary punishment for resource destroyers. Whether it is polluting rivers, deforestation, or trafficking biological resources, perpetrators must face severe legal prosecution and long-term imprisonment. While international recognition and economic profits are necessary, securing absolute sovereignty, legal protection, and national interest of our resources within our borders is a million times more critical.
