The role of foreign funding in shaping political landscapes has long been a subject of controversy, but recent revelations about USAID’s involvement in Bangladesh have raised alarming concerns. While former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized USAID’s use of American taxpayer dollars to influence foreign regimes, a new case has emerged that underscores these claims. A USAID-funded entity in Bangladesh has openly admitted to playing a role in political upheaval, with its activities allegedly contributing to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina’s government. As concerns grow over the country’s descent into instability, reports suggest that USAID-backed programs have not only fueled a jihadist coup but also worked to suppress press freedom and control public discourse. The question now arises: is foreign intervention shaping Bangladesh’s future in ways that threaten its sovereignty and security?

While former President Donald Trump has repeatedly highlighted USAID’s allocation of millions of American taxpayer dollars toward regime change and jihadist coups in various countries, including Bangladesh, one of the recipients of USAID funding has publicly boasted about its role in toppling Sheikh Hasina’s government. This move has paved the way for Bangladesh to become a safe haven for terrorists, jihadists, Islamists, and the Pakistani ISI. On September 11, 2024 – just weeks after the jihadist coup – an entity named Micro-governance Research Initiatives (MRG) posted on Meta, stating: 

“It’s Not Suddenly ‘Spring’! In the last two years, MGR, SAVE Youth, and the DFTP team have conducted 544 youth events and programs across university campuses in Bangladesh, including workshops, training sessions, dialogues, summits, action projects, and campaigns. These initiatives directly engaged 10,264 university youth through 221 action projects and 170 democracy sessions, among others! All these were made possible with the generous support and partnership of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and USAID Bangladesh under the Nagorik Program”.

Since the jihadist coup in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus has been aggressively working to stifle press freedom and freedom of expression. He has also been leveraging his influence over Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta platform through individuals such as George and Alex Soros. On September 17, 2024, the USAID-funded MRG publicly admitted to training so-called fact-checkers, stating:

“Our young InfoLeaders and certified FactCheckers are fighting against disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation, as well as dangerous and hate speech during this period of political and social transition in Bangladesh 2.0. This innovative and skills-based workshop was organized in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Internews and was supported by USAID Bangladesh”.

It is important to note that USAID and other US agencies, using American taxpayer dollars, have been providing millions of dollars for the “training” of fact-checkers who are later employed by social media platforms such as Meta, X, LinkedIn, and others. These individuals are tasked with curtailing freedom of expression. On Elon Musk’s X platform, such elements regularly target critical accounts using shadow bans and other methods of suppression.

Just weeks before the August 5 jihadist coup, on June 9, 2024, USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman visited the University of Dhaka to discuss the progress of their regime-change plot with Microgovernance Research Initiatives.

Interestingly, immediately after USAID’s activities were exposed by Elon Musk, the website of Microgovernance Research Initiatives was shut down. Furthermore, information related to this entity’s activities is gradually being erased from social media and the internet.

A closer examination of MRG’s social media accounts reveals how USAID and other American agencies have funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to promote radical-left ideologies in Bangladesh. It is highly likely that similar projects are being implemented in other countries, including India.

Earlier, President Trump had stated: 

“$21 million is going to my friend, Prime Minister Modi, in India for voter turnout. We’re giving $21 million for voter turnout in India – what about us? I want voter turnout too! Governor, $29 million was allocated to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. This money went to a firm that nobody had ever heard of. They received $29 million just like that. Can you imagine? A small firm that may have previously gotten $10,000 here and there suddenly received $29 million from the US government. That firm had only two employees. I think they’re very happy, very rich, and will soon be featured on the cover of a prestigious business magazine as great scammers”.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding USAID’s expenditure of millions of American taxpayer dollars to empower Islamists and jihadists in Bangladesh – as well as radical-left forces in India – Indian journalist Kartik Lokhande wrote in an article titled Bust the Trojan Horse:

“There is nothing wrong with embracing noble ideas and ideals, irrespective of their country of origin. However, when this comes at the cost of deviating from our own culture, which has brought a country like India to its current position, it becomes a national concern. Everyone wonders how this happened. Whether through USAID or some other channel, there is reason to believe that such projects have acted as a modern-day Trojan Horse – one that India has unsuspectingly allowed. Given the international controversy surrounding USAID and its projects, India must look beyond political affiliations and initiate an investigation to determine whether foreign funding has been part of a broader influence operation. Those who have done nothing wrong have nothing to fear”.

Although Trump has reiterated these concerns on multiple occasions, indicating that he takes the matter seriously, his critics argue that, during his second term, he is engaging in mere political posturing rather than taking substantive action. They claim that before the 2024 presidential elections, Trump made numerous pledges – including his October 31, 2024, post on X expressing dismay over Bangladesh’s descent into chaos and barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and religious minorities. However, after his resounding victory and even after his inauguration, he has remained silent on this particular issue. Millions of Hindus in Bangladesh, as well as the 1.4 billion Hindus in India and the Hindu diaspora in the US, had high hopes that Trump would take action against the perpetrators of these atrocities.

Conversely, Trump supporters argue that he remains steadfast in his commitment to addressing barbaric atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the country’s descent into chaos, as well as the alarming rise of radical Islamic forces, including Al Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, and others. They believe that Trump and his administration are quietly working on tough measures to address these concerns. Additionally, they argue that it would be impossible for Trump to accept Muhammad Yunus as an ally, given Yunus’s longstanding reputation as a Trump critic, a top donor to the Clinton Foundation, and a financial associate of the Clintons and Soros.

Geopolitically, Bangladesh holds a crucial position in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, making it a region that the Trump administration cannot afford to ignore. Given these realities, Trump may seek to replace Muhammad Yunus, who has been in power since August 5, 2024, with an alternative leadership in Dhaka. He may not be willing to tolerate Yunus’s influence, especially given Yunus’s close ties with the Clintons and Soros.

In my opinion, Trump’s second term remains highly unpredictable – even Nostradamus would have struggled to foresee his future actions. The US is currently grappling with a financial crisis, with over US$35 trillion in debt. To navigate this, Trump is likely to adopt the role of a top salesman, treating every major player – including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India, and even China – as a potential business partner. The terminology best friend or key ally holds little significance beyond business tactics. While opposing illegal immigration, Trump has declared that anyone willing to spend US$5 million to purchase a “gold card” will be welcomed into the US – regardless of the source of their wealth.

Elon Musk and others are actively working to curtail America’s foreign spending, particularly USAID’s budget. Moving forward, Washington will likely continue its strategic dominance without dipping into its already thin wallet. Meanwhile, Trump will undoubtedly seize opportunities to secure American financial interests—whether through precious minerals in Ukraine, discounted Russian oil and gas, or the vast oil and gas reserves in Bangladesh’s Bay of Bengal. Furthermore, he is expected to push forward with America’s long-standing plan to establish a military base on St. Martin’s Island near Cox’s Bazar.

The question remains: Can Trump embrace Muhammad Yunus despite his ties to the Clintons and Soros, or will he exert pressure to bring about a new leadership in Bangladesh, possibly through the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)? If Trump sides with BNP, it would spell a nightmare for Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, and Muhammad Yunus alike.

The revelations surrounding USAID’s involvement in Bangladesh paint a troubling picture of foreign influence, political manipulation, and the suppression of free expression. If allegations of funding radical elements and facilitating regime change hold true, it raises serious concerns not only for Bangladesh but for global geopolitics. As Donald Trump’s administration faces mounting scrutiny over its stance on international interventions, the question remains whether his second term will bring decisive action or mere rhetoric.

Meanwhile, figures like Muhammad Yunus maneuver within shifting political currents, seeking to maintain power through strategic alliances. Whether Trump will challenge these dynamics or seek an alternative leadership in Bangladesh remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that Bangladesh stands at a critical crossroads – one where its sovereignty, stability, and future direction hang in the balance.

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