Money not seen in our records: Bangladesh official on $29 million USAID grant

In its first reaction to the raging USAID funding controversy, Bangladesh said that the $29 million grant allotted to the South Asian nation to strengthen its political landscape “was not seen in our records”.

In its announcement on February 16, the Elon Musk-led US Department of Government Efficiency announced its decision to slash $723 million in foreign aid funding as part of its broader budget overhaul plans.

The funding included the $29 million grant for Bangladesh, as well as $21 million for India aimed at “increasing voter turnout”. The announcement has led to a massive political row in India, as Trump hinted at election interference and questioned the requirement of such funds.

Meanwhile, Md Anwar Hossain, Director General of Bangladesh’s NGO Affairs Bureau, said, “We have not seen the amount of money in our records”.

The bureau is a Bangladesh government body which facilitates the activities of NGOs operating across Bangladesh with foreign assistance.

“Donald Trump said about $29 million. We have not identified that amount come through the NGO Affairs Bureau. Because if they can tell which NGOs are involved, then we can identify them. But overall, the money is not yet seen in our NGO Affairs records. I cannot tell if they have sent money into the country without bypassing the NGO Affairs Bureau,” he added.

The Bangladesh government official also confirmed that more than 75 NGOs in the country not only receive funding from the American aid agency, but also donations from US-based donors.

“USAID mostly helps with projects involving the Rohingya and these are still in operation, not suspended,” he stated.

Hossain went on to explain that “if foreign donors donate directly to the registered NGOs, only then can we keep a record of the money. USAID brings in money through government channels, which is then distributed to agencies. This is not reflected in our NGO Affairs records”.