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MoFA Refutes Allegations of $29M Awarded to Individuals
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has dismissed claims that the USAID awarded a $29 million contract to an organization in Bangladesh owned by just two individuals.
The allegations surfaced following comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL) project in Bangladesh, which caused widespread confusion.
In response to the claims, MoFA initiated an investigation, which led to a statement released today refuting the accusations. “The allegations that the SPL project was awarded to an organization owned by two individuals from Bangladesh are entirely baseless,” the statement said, citing the findings of the foreign ministry’s inquiry.
The statement clarified that during President Trump's first term, USAID selected Democracy International (DI), a U.S.-registered nonprofit, to implement the SPL project. The award was made after a transparent and competitive bidding process, with multiple international organizations participating.
Following the signing of an agreement in March 2017, DI began implementing the SPL project, initially budgeted at $14 million for a five-year period. The project was later extended, with funding allocated in phases. The ministry highlighted that USAID managed the project, with additional funding from the UK’s development agency, DFID (now FCDO), which committed $10 million to the initiative.
The SPL project’s core objectives were to reduce political violence, foster peace and harmony, promote coexistence among political parties, strengthen institutional capacity, enhance internal democratic practices, and encourage representative leadership. As part of its efforts, DI conducted survey programs throughout Bangladesh.
The Foreign Ministry also reassured the public that all USAID-funded projects comply with stringent U.S. government financial management policies, including thorough auditing processes. The ministry noted that project documentation is preserved for several years after completion and is subject to re-audit if needed.
Furthermore, the ministry emphasized that such projects are executed under the Development Objective Assistance Agreement (DOAG) between Bangladesh and the United States, ensuring that no individual’s influence affects their implementation.