US President Donald Trump has raised questions about a $29 million USAID fund granted to Bangladesh for strengthening its political landscape, alleging the money went to an obscure firm.
Speaking at the Governors Working Session yesterday (21 February), Trump said, "[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.”
"Two people ... I think they are very happy. They are very rich. They will be on the cover of a very good business magazine pretty soon for being great scammers," Trump said during his speech uploaded at YouTube channel titled The White House.
According to the Democracy International website, the Strengthening Political Landscape in Bangladesh program (SPL), funded by USAID and DFID, works to build political party capacity and strengthen relationships between parties and constituents while reducing political violence.
It says the duration of the project was from 2017 to 2024.
During his speech, Trump also said that "$21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India for voter turnout."
"We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too," he added.
On 16 February, the US president's cost-cutting team, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), posted on X listing the names of 11 countries and specific names of some of the US-funded overseas projects that had been cancelled.
