A Bangladesh-US trade agreement risks devastating the livelihoods of poor livestock farmers across Bangladesh, with critics warning it effectively facilitates the dumping of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) through imported meat and dairy products, according to an analysis published in The Daily Star, a Dhaka-based newspaper.

The Core Concern: Unequal Economic Models

Farida Akhter, a former adviser in Bangladesh's Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, argues in the article that the trade terms are fundamentally asymmetric. In Bangladesh, livestock keeping forms part of the livelihood economy of 80-85 per cent of 4.1 crore households, often led by women, and contributes 16 per cent of agricultural GDP. In the US, by contrast, industrial livestock farming accounts for 21 lakh farms but engages less than two per cent of the population — a fundamentally different, agro-capitalist model.

The article further notes that Bangladesh's smallholder farmers receive no subsidies, yet will be forced to compete with a heavily subsidised US industrial sector. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reportedly spent at least $72 billion in subsidies to livestock and seafood producers over the past few decades. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), smallholder livestock systems are highly vulnerable to import competition due to limited access to credit, technology, and state support.

The GMO and Food Safety Dimension

The article highlights that corn and soybeans used as feed for chicken, dairy cattle, and meat cattle in the US are genetically modified. Notably, over 90 per cent of the acreage planted with GM soybean varieties in the US carries primarily herbicide-tolerant traits designed for chemical weed control.

A 2019 European Union study cited in the article states that widespread use of such herbicide-tolerant crops has triggered an "arms race" in genetic engineering, with many weeds adapting and becoming resistant. The study warns that increasing herbicide application creates new challenges for health risk assessment, as herbicide residues can enter the food chain through derived products.

The article also flags a separate concern for Bangladesh's majority-Muslim population: US chicken feed reportedly contains meat meal from recycled animal by-products, primarily beef and pork — a religiously sensitive issue for a country where over 90 per cent of the population is Muslim.

GMOs Through the Back Door

Akhter's analysis points out that under the agreement, Bangladesh is not importing soybean and corn directly. Instead, these GM inputs enter the country indirectly through imported meat, dairy products, and other soybean- and corn-based goods. Additionally, a genetically modified growth hormone called recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), used to increase cows' milk production by 10-15 per cent, is present in milk used to manufacture ice cream, butter, cheese, and yoghurt.

Malaysia's Rejection and What It Signals

The article notes that the US Reciprocal Trade Agreement was concluded with nine countries. Among them, Malaysia became the first to declare the deal invalid on 15 March 2026. Akhter argues this should prompt Bangladesh to re-evaluate its own agreement or follow Malaysia's lead. This development adds political weight to what had largely been framed as a technical trade debate.

What Comes Next

With Malaysia's rejection now on record and growing domestic scrutiny, pressure is mounting on Dhaka to revisit the terms of the agreement. Whether Bangladesh's government responds to these concerns — or presses ahead with implementation — will determine the fate of millions of rural livelihoods that depend on the livestock sector.