DHAKA, May 28 (NNN-BSS) – The shutdown of 55 out of 59 USAID-funded programmes in Bangladesh, has led to job losses in the development sector, estimated at over 50,000 people.
Zinat Ara Afroze, convener of the Association of Unemployed Development Professionals (AUDP), revealed the information at a press conference in Dhaka, yesterday.
Reading out a written statement, she said that, more than 50,000 professionals involved in these projects and linked projects, lost their jobs, and the country lost development assistance worth 700 million U.S. dollars.
She demanded immediate dialogue with the AUDP to find solutions.
The USAID Bangladesh, in a letter to its project implementing partners, on Jan 25, stated that, along with other countries, the agency was declaring an immediate cessation or suspension of any work in Bangladesh under contracts, work orders, grants, cooperative agreements or other assistance or procurement instruments.
Earlier, U.S. President, Donald Trump, issued an executive order suspending development funding to all countries for 90 days, to allow a review of the programmes funded by USAID, one of the world’s largest humanitarian donors.– NNN-BSS
