DHAKA (ANI)- The U.S. and Bangladesh are at odds over a controversial $29 million USAID project that, according to a senior Bangladeshi official, never passed through the country’s regulatory channels.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House on February 21, criticized several USAID-funded initiatives recently scrapped on the recommendation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. Among them, he singled out a $29 million program purportedly meant to “strengthen the political landscape” in Bangladesh.
“$29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh went to a firm nobody ever heard of,” Trump said. “Can you imagine? A small firm gets $10,000 here, $10,000 there, and then suddenly $29 million from the U.S. government. They had two employees. I think they’re very happy, very rich. They’ll be on the cover of a very good business magazine soon for being great scammers.”
However, Bangladesh’s government says there is no trace of such funding. Md. Anwar Hossain, Director General (In-Charge) of the NGO Affairs Bureau, which oversees foreign-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Ordinance 1978, said they have no record of the alleged disbursement.
“Donald Trump mentioned about $29 million, but we have not identified that amount coming through our NGO Affairs Bureau,” Hossain told reporters. “If they specify the involved NGOs, we can verify, but overall, we do not see that amount spent for NGOs.”
When asked whether USAID had bypassed the Bureau’s oversight in disbursing the funds, Hossain declined to comment.
The controversy comes amid the suspension of USAID funding to certain programs in Bangladesh, a move Hossain acknowledged could have long-term consequences. “Our NGOs receive support from various countries. At times, funds decrease due to global crises like COVID-19 or disasters such as in Turkey, but they are often redirected elsewhere. This suspension will have an impact, but NGOs will seek alternative donors,” he said.
Bangladesh has 2,640 registered NGOs, which provide significant employment opportunities. Hossain clarified that despite funding suspensions, USAID continues to support projects for Rohingya refugees, with nearly 70 NGOs still receiving U.S. assistance.
For over 50 years, the U.S. has invested more than $8 billion in Bangladesh, according to the U.S. State Department. But as Trump questions recent aid allocations, Bangladesh maintains it has seen no evidence of the missing $29 million.