DHAKA, Sept 15 (Askume) – The United States is committed to supporting inclusive economic growth, institution building and development in Bangladesh and will provide $202 million in additional assistance, a U.S. delegation said on Sunday during a visit to Dhaka.
The six-member delegation, led by Treasury Undersecretary Brent Neeman, is the first US delegation since the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took power last month after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following deadly protests.
Chief adviser Yunus said in a televised speech last week that the government was seeking $5 billion in aid to help stabilize an economy struggling since the war in Ukraine, which has led to a sharp rise in fuel and food imports. Bangladesh sought $4.7 billion in aid from the International Monetary Fund last year.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said it will provide a $202 million grant to promote good governance, social, human and economic opportunities, and resilience under the agreement signed in Dhaka on Sunday.
This follows a 2021 agreement, in which USAID promised a total of $954 million between 2021 and 2026, of which $425 million has already been provided.
Following the meeting with Yunus, the US embassy posted a statement on its Facebook page emphasizing its readiness to support Bangladesh in moving toward a more “equitable and inclusive future.”
According to a statement from his office, Yunus wants US support to rebuild Bangladesh, make necessary reforms in the judiciary, police and financial institutions, and recover assets stolen by the previous government.
The visiting US delegation expressed Washington’s willingness to support these reform efforts and provide technical and financial assistance, the statement said.
The talks also covered economic reforms, investment, labour issues, the Rohingya crisis and Yunus’ upcoming visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
The US visitors also held discussions with key members of the interim government, including Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain, Finance and Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, and Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan Mansu U.
Mr. Liu, Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs and one of the members of the delegation, arrived in Dhaka after concluding his visit to India.
The US Embassy said it reiterated its commitment to work with Bangladesh to expand economic opportunities, build institutional capacity, uphold human rights, and address climate risks.
