The United States has pledged an additional $202 million in aid to support Bangladesh’s inclusive economic growth, institutional development, and overall advancement, according to a US delegation that visited Dhaka on Sunday.
The six-member delegation, led by Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Department Brent Neiman, is the first from the US since the interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, assumed office last month following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid deadly protests.
In a recent televised address, Chief Adviser Yunus appealed for $5 billion in aid to stabilize Bangladesh’s economy, which has been strained by the Ukraine war’s impact on fuel and food import costs. Last year, Bangladesh also sought a $4.7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it would provide a $202 million grant to support good governance, social and economic opportunities, and resilience. This grant is part of a 2021 agreement where USAID committed $954 million between 2021 and 2026, with $425 million already disbursed.
The US embassy’s statement on Facebook highlighted its commitment to assisting Bangladesh in achieving a more “equitable and inclusive future.”
Yunus has requested US support for rebuilding efforts, essential reforms in the judiciary, police, and financial institutions, and the recovery of assets allegedly stolen by the previous government.
