US global aid deferred for 90 days amid comprehensive review
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended all forms of humanitarian aid for all countries worldwide, including Bangladesh, for a period of 90 days to conduct a comprehensive review.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, stated that the directive has not yet been officially communicated to the interim government of Bangladesh and clarified that the decision is not country-specific.
Bangladesh had previously expressed concerns regarding US funding for the Rohingya refugees through USAID, but the US administration has assured that this funding will continue.
In response to this development, the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for maintaining US support for the Rohingya refugees through USAID programmes, despite the temporary suspension of aid for review.
This statement was made by the Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary, Apurba Jahangir, during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday.
USAID is a major donor providing nutritional assistance to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.
In addition, it collaborates with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver food and nutrition support. Since August 2017, the US government has provided nearly $2.4 billion for the Rohingya response, with almost $2 billion allocated to Bangladesh.
Following an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump after assuming office, USAID has suspended all forms of humanitarian aid globally, including in Bangladesh, as part of a comprehensive review of foreign aid programmes.
The suspension is expected to impact contracts, grants, and other funded projects, raising concerns among NGOs in Bangladesh that rely on US funding.
However, exceptions have been made for financial assistance to Israel and Egypt, which will remain unaffected.
On Sunday, USAID cited Trump’s executive order in a letter addressed to project-implementing partners in Bangladesh.
The letter, issued by USAID’s Bangladesh office director, Richard Aron, stated: “This letter is directing all USAID/Bangladesh implementing partners to immediately cease or suspend any work under your USAID/Bangladesh contract, work order, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance or acquisition instrument.”
The US State Department has indicated that foreign assistance will resume as deemed appropriate under new guidelines following a review by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Until the review is completed, the suspension will remain in effect.
The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid in response to the Rohingya crisis, contributing nearly $2.4 billion since August 2017.
This includes almost $2 billion dedicated to supporting Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, according to the USAID website. In 2023 alone, the US provided $490 million in obligations and an additional $550 million in disbursements through various agencies to support Bangladesh.
Prior to Trump’s executive order, various project stakeholders, including US-funded NGOs in Bangladesh, had expressed concerns about the potential impact of the directive.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, stated, “I cannot confirm whether all US assistance to Bangladesh will cease, as I have not received any official information. However, it has been reported in the media. This decision, to some extent, was anticipated.”
“The US is suspending all types of funding for 90 days across all countries. It is not country-specific. President Donald Trump had indicated this even before the election, stating that they would reconsider and review such funding,” he added.
Touhid Hossain further commented, “It appears they are taking this time for consideration, as per their statement. It can be assumed that such funding may decrease, which was already a concern.”
When asked about the impact of suspending US assistance on annual funding for Rohingya refugees, he remarked, “We are entering a new reality, and there should be no doubt about it.
A new president has taken office in the US, and it was expected that his policies would differ from those of his predecessor. We must wait and see how things unfold and address any emerging challenges to protect our interests.”
The suspension comes at a time when Bangladesh is facing mounting economic challenges, which intensified during the Awami League government as foreign reserves dwindled to a critical level.
This directive has now created additional concerns, as Bangladesh relies heavily on USAID aid for various projects.