Bangladesh in BIG trouble after US stops…, Yunus meets Trump envoy, raises concern over…

In her conversation with Muhammad Yunus, US ambassador Tracey Jacobson stressed the need for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, while emphasizing the importance of all citizens having the right to choose their representative.

Bangladesh News: Bangladesh, whose economy has gone downhill after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in August last year, plunged into deeper financial crisis after US Donald Trump halted US financial aid to foreign nations, including Bangladesh. Now, weeks after Trump’s move led to massive job cuts in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Dhaka’s interim government, met US envoy Tracey Jacobson, and expressed concern over the US’ halting financial aid, which has severely impacted programs like the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).

Yunus meets US envoy

In his meeting with Jacobson, Professor Yunus also discussed the interim government’s reform agenda, Rohingya crisis as well as law and order situation in Bangladesh, The Daily Star reported. Yunus and US ambassador also discussed “Operation Devil Hunt”, which was launched by Bangladesh law enforcement agencies after clashes erupted between pro-Hasina loyalists and students groups, the report said.

As per the report, Yunus informed the US envoy about his ongoing efforts to form a consensus commission and begin talks among the country’s various political parties so that an agreement can be reached on reforms and implementing the July Charter, which he stated will mark a crucial step in restoring democracy and people’s governance in Bangladesh.

In her conversation with Muhammad Yunus, Tracey Jacobson stressed the need for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, while emphasizing the importance of all citizens having the right to choose their representative.

Jacobson also inquired about ‘Operation Devil Hunt’, to which Yunus conceded that Bangladesh was going through a difficult period and needs global support to strengthen the country’s democratic values.

ICCDR sacks 1000 employees

Notably, last month, the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), became the first victim of Trump’s decision to halt US aid, terminating the services of over 1000 employees.

ICCDR, which operated with aid received from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), had hired these employees and officers on contractual basis, and offered them handsome salaries. But after the stoppage of US funding, the agency was forced to halt its operations due to lack of financial resources, reports said.

India-Bangladesh relations

India-Bangladesh relations have hit an all-time low after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, coming to the helm in Dhaka.

Widespread communal violence against minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, which has soured Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi, with the latter accusing the Yunus-led interim government of not doing enough, and turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamist elements against the minority Hindu community in the country.