The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended all assistance programmes in Bangladesh following new US President Donald Trump’s policy of suspending funding worldwide.

The US donor agency on Saturday directed to immediately stop, cease and suspend any work in Bangladesh under contracts, work orders, grants, cooperative agreements, or other acquisition or assistance instruments in a letter sent to all its implementing partners in Bangladesh.

“This letter serves as a directive to all USAID/Bangladesh Implementing Partners to immediately stop, cease, and/or suspend any work performed under your respective USAID/Bangladesh contract, task order, grant, cooperative agreement, or other acquisition or assistance instrument,” says the letter issued by Richard B Aaron, director for the Office of Acquisition and Assistance of USAID.

The executive order by the White House mentioned a 90-day pause in the US foreign development assistance.

Earlier on Friday, the US virtually halted all foreign aid, making exceptions only for emergency food, and military funding for Israel and Egypt.

This sudden decision has raised significant concerns among various project stakeholders, including US-funded non-governmental organisations operating in Bangladesh.

The potential implications of the order will be substantial for Bangladesh as the USAID programme in Bangladesh is the largest in Asia.

Analysts opine that this move of President Trump aims to reduce the US’ international spending.

Food aid for Rohingya refugees to continue

The USAID will continue providing food assistance to the Rohingya community in Bangladesh despite the recent executive order by US President Donald Trump suspending foreign aid to all countries for 90 days.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus expressed his gratitude to President Trump for exempting USAID’s nutrition support for Rohingya refugees from the suspension, CA’s Press Wing confirmed the development during a press briefing on Sunday.

CA’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir said Dr Khalilur Rahman, the high representative of the chief adviser for the Rohingya crisis, met with US Embassy officials earlier on the day to discuss the matter.

Jahangir said USAID’s ongoing nutrition assistance, provided in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, will remain unaffected.