3 Days After Meeting PM Modi, Trump Halts $29 Million Aid to Bangladesh

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New Delhi, 16th February 2025: Within 48 hours of PM Modi’s US visit, the Trump administration has dealt a major blow to Bangladesh by halting funding. America was supposed to provide $29 million in funding to Bangladesh, aimed at creating a better political environment in the country. The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced the cancellation of this funding.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – a department in Donald Trump’s administration led by Elon Musk – has canceled multiple projects, including the Bangladesh funding initiative. The US government had planned to allocate $29 million to Bangladesh to help strengthen its political landscape, but now Musk’s department has revoked the funding.

DOGE Releases List of Canceled US Funding Projects

The Department of Government Efficiency released the full list of canceled projects on the social media platform X. In a post, DOGE stated, “$29M to ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh’ has been stopped.” Recently, PM Modi had a discussion with US President Trump regarding Bangladesh. However, Trump has denied any US involvement in the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh, stating, “I’ll leave Bangladesh to PM Modi.”

US-funded programs aimed at strengthening political stability, enhancing the capacity of political parties, improving relationships between parties, and reducing violence. Several university students and political activists were also part of this program. Overall, the initiative focused on improving Bangladesh’s political environment.

The Department of Government Efficiency Has Stopped Funding for These Programs:

$10 million in aid to Mozambique for voluntary medical male circumcision.
$9.7 million in aid to Cambodia for UC Berkeley.
$2.3 million for “strengthening independent voices in Cambodia.”
$32 million to the Prague Civil Society Center.
$40 million in aid related to the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Center.
$14 million to Serbia for improving public procurement.
$486 million to the Consortium for Strengthening Elections and Political Processes.
$22 million in funding for an inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova.
$21 million for voting initiatives in India.
$29 million for strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.
$20 million in funding to Nepal.
$19 million for the “Biodiversity Dialogue” in Nepal.
$1.5 million for a voter confidence program in Liberia.
$14 million in funding for social cohesion in Mali.
$2.5 million in aid to South Africa.
$47 million in aid to Asia.
$2 million in aid to Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities.