Dhaka urges U.S. to reconsider halting aid, fears social and political fallout

Dhaka has made an appeal to Washington, asking the United States to rethink its decision to cut off aid to Bangladesh. 

The request came after the U.S. announced that it would suspend all foreign aid to several countries, including Bangladesh, which was one of the top recipients of U.S. assistance in 2023.

Bangladesh’s Environment and Forest Advisor, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, expressed her concerns over this development, saying, “U.S. aid has been temporarily halted. We are hopeful that the U.S. government will reconsider this. If there are any issues of irregularity or other allegations, addressing those is one matter, but cutting off aid entirely is another. Our appeal to the U.S. government is that they do not take any steps that will hurt our people.”

The Foreign Ministry and analysts believe the aid suspension could impact not only social progress but also the political landscape of Bangladesh. 

While Trump’s administration had suspended aid to several countries upon taking office, including Bangladesh, experts argue that the future of aid will likely depend on how important the U.S. considers its relationship with Bangladesh.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Tawhid Hossain emphasized the need for Bangladesh to become more self-reliant and explore alternatives to foreign aid. 

“At this point, we have no control over the situation. We must monitor the developments and seek alternative strategies to remain sustainable,” he said.

The international aid cut came just 22 days after Trump issued an executive order in January 2023. 

The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made the decision to cut aid to several countries, including Bangladesh and India.

Experts like international relations analyst Mostafa Sarwar believe the decision may be influenced by whether or not Bangladesh’s foreign policies align with U.S. interests. 

“If there is no alignment, it is unlikely the aid will be restored,” Sarwar commented.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that it is common for U.S. foreign aid decisions to shift based on which political party holds power. 

As such, international relations expert Imtiaz Ahmed encouraged Bangladesh to think beyond relying on a single source for aid. 

“The idea that America will continue to provide aid indefinitely is not realistic anymore. I believe the world is not moving in that direction. To secure additional funding, the government will need to think creatively,” Ahmed added.

Over the past five decades, the United States has provided Bangladesh with more than $8 billion in aid, benefiting sectors like public health, education, energy, the environment, food security, and disaster response. 

However, with this recent development, Bangladesh may need to look for alternative solutions to maintain its social and economic progress.