US stops all aid to Bangladesh

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
JANUARY 27(STC): The United States (US) government has decided to stop all aid to the Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh government. The United States donor agency USAID has announced an immediate cessation or suspension of any work in Bangladesh under contracts, work orders, grants, cooperative agreements, or other assistance or procurement instruments.
The suspension of all aid amid a huge economic crisis, will witness even greater challenges for Bangladesh.
The USAID, in its letter on the funding suspension, cited US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, saying, “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.”
Various project stakeholders, including US-funded NGOs in Bangladesh, were concerned about the impact of this order.
Notably, the decision comes days after Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a brief discussion about Bangladesh with newly-appointed Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio on 22 January. (STC)