USAID’s funding suspension not country specific: Foreign adviser
He said the Bangladesh government has not yet been officially notified about the decision
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today (26 January) described US President Donald Trump's decision to cut aid as "expected" and clarified that USAID's temporary aid suspension is not specific to any particular country.
"It's not country-specific," he told reporters at the foreign ministry this afternoon when they approached for the adviser's comments about the Trump's executive order regarding US's global aid cooperation.
After assuming office, Trump recently issued an executive order suspending US aid to all countries for 90 days to allow a review of the assistance programmes, a decision not targeting any specific nation.
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Following the order, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) directed an immediate suspension of funding for all ongoing projects and programmes in Bangladesh, as in other countries.
However, the Bangladesh government has not yet been officially notified about the decision.
When asked about the suspension of US assistance to Bangladesh, Touhid said, "I cannot confirm this at the moment as I have not received any official information. However, reports of this have already surfaced in the media."
"It's expected. He [US President Donald Trump] had been saying before the election that he would review these matters. They have taken the time for reconsideration, that is what they said. It can be assumed that such funding will decrease; this is something everyone was concerned about," he said.
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Regarding the potential impact on annual funding for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Touhid said, "We are entering into a new reality, and there should be no doubt about it."
The adviser explained that the new US President has introduced policies that significantly differ from those of his predecessor.
"We will have to wait and see the final outcome and adapt accordingly. When new challenges arise, we must work strategically to safeguard our national interests," he added.
Meanwhile, USAID's Bangladesh office director, Richard Aron, issued a directive today to all local development organisations contracted with USAID, instructing them to halt expenditures immediately.
