Over 1,000 icddr,b employees laid off due to US funding cuts
Following the US government's directive, we have suspended all projects and research activities funded by them until further notice, AKM Tariful Islam Khan, senior manager (communications) at icddr,b, says
The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has issued termination letters to more than 1,000 of its employees following the US government's recent decision to halt funding to foreign programmes.
AKM Tariful Islam Khan, senior manager (communications) at icddr,b, confirmed the development to The Business Standard today (31 January), stating that these employees were involved in various research projects funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
"Following the US government's directive, we have suspended all projects and research activities funded by them until further notice," Tariful said.
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"We express our sympathy and regret for the inconvenience caused to our service recipients, various partners, and colleagues. We are hopeful that we can resume our activities in the future," he added.
This is the latest incident of employees being sacked from programmes funded by the USAID after President Donald Trump on 20 January issued an executive order suspending funding to all countries for 90 days to allow a review of the assistance programmes.
On 25 January, USAID in a letter to project implementing partners in Bangladesh stated that along with other countries around the world, the 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 US is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis, having provided nearly $2.4 billion since the outbreak of violence in August 2017, including nearly $2 billion to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh, according to the USAID website.
The country has assisted Bangladesh with $550 million as disbursement in 2023 alone via all its agencies.
The icddr,b, a globally recognised health research institution in Bangladesh, focuses on public health, infectious diseases, nutrition, maternal and child health, and vaccines, with its employees primarily funded by grants, donations, and contracts from international organisations, governments, and private donors.
The institution does not generate revenue like a commercial enterprise; instead, it relies on external funding sources to support its research, treatment, and operational costs.
