Desk Report:
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected claims made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a $29 million USAID fund, asserting that the allegations are false.
On March 3, the ministry issued a statement clarifying that the $29 million USAID-funded project, titled Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL) in Bangladesh, was implemented by Democracy International, a U.S.-registered organization. The ministry emphasized that such projects are carried out through bilateral agreements and are subject to a transparent competitive process, making it impossible for individuals to directly influence the implementation of these projects.
Trump’s claim, made during a speech at the White House on February 21, suggested that the $29 million had been funneled to a small, little-known firm in Bangladesh owned by two individuals. “They got $29 million. They got a cheque. Can you imagine you have a little firm, you get $10,000 here, $10,000 there? And then we get $29 million from the United States government. They had two people working in that firm,” Trump had stated.
In response, the Bangladeshi foreign ministry clarified that the SPL project was selected through a transparent bidding process initiated by USAID during Trump’s first term. Democracy International was chosen after a competitive evaluation of proposals. The project, which initially had a five-year duration and a budget of $14 million, was later extended with staged funding.
The SPL project aimed to reduce political violence and foster peace and harmony by promoting peaceful coexistence among political parties, strengthening internal democracy, and enhancing the capacity of political organizations in Bangladesh. Additionally, Democracy International conducted surveys in Bangladesh as part of the project.
The ministry also highlighted that all USAID-funded projects follow the U.S. government’s strict financial management policies, which include audits and the preservation of relevant documents for future scrutiny. It further assured that any re-audits would be conducted as necessary.
The project was financed by both USAID and the UK’s development agency DFID, which contributed $10 million to the initiative.