Spike in USAID assistance for B'desh civil society in '24: Data

UNDER the Joe Biden administration, the United States has spent $1.89 billion on development aid to Bangladesh over the past four years, primarily through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), making Bangladesh the largest recipient of American assistance in South Asia, according to the US government data analysed by TNIE.

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY @New Delhi

Among 15 countries in South and Central Asia, Bangladesh ranks second, following Afghanistan, which received $4.82 billion due to the US's long direct presence in the country.

Most of the funds are spent in Bangladesh under the head of emergency response, followed by agriculture, government and civil society.

Bangladesh received a whopping $91 million under the Government and Civil Society (GCS) head. Major funds under the same head were spent in Bangladesh's 2024 election and the pre-election years.

Curiously, under the GCS head, funds for Democratic Participation and Civil Society, Media and Flow of Information, and Legislative and Political Parties have been consistently increased over the years.