Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Monday said Bangladesh is unaware of $29 million in aid allegedly provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as recently claimed by US President Donald Trump.
“If you do not ask me anything about the $29 million, that would be better. You do not know much about this matter, and I know even less. Because I do not have any clear information on who received the money and who spent it.”
He continued: “Our NGO Affairs Bureau has said that they do not have any entry on this. I was involved with an organization as an honorary director for a long time. Some Bangladeshis would send money from the United States. We used to run 15 dialysis centre here. At that time, I saw that no funds could be released without the approval of the NGO Bureau.”
The adviser said: “Therefore, the NGO Bureau is saying that they have not found any entry regarding this $29 million. So, for now, we have to accept their statement.”
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, US President Donald Trump criticized a $29 million USAID grant intended for Bangladesh’s political landscape, alleging it aimed to support left-wing candidates.
He expressed frustration over the funding, claiming it was directed to a small firm with just two employees, accusing them of being “great scammers.”
