The six-member delegation, headed by US Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Brent Neiman, is the first US delegation to visit Bangladesh since the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took office last month after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following deadly protests.
In a televised address last week, Younis said the government was appealing for $5 billion in international aid to help stabilize the economy, which has been struggling since the war. Ukrainewhich led to a sharp increase in the cost of fuel and food imports.
Last year, Bangladesh sought a $4.7 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
In an agreement signed Sunday in Dhaka, USAID said it would provide a $202 million grant to promote good governance and social, humanitarian and economic opportunities.
This follows a 2021 agreement in which USAID pledged a total of $954 million between 2021 and 2026, of which $425 million has already been provided to date.
In a statement on its Facebook page following the meeting with Yunus, the US embassy in Dhaka said it stood ready to support Bangladesh in its quest for a “more equitable and inclusive future.”
According to a statement from Yunus’ office, he sought U.S. support to help rebuild Bangladesh, carry out fundamental reforms in the judiciary, police and financial institutions, and recover assets looted by the previous regime.
The statement explained that the visiting American delegation expressed Washington’s readiness to support these reform efforts and provide technical and financial assistance.
The US embassy said it reaffirmed its commitment to working with Bangladesh on increasing economic opportunities, building institutional capacity, supporting human rights, and addressing climate risks.
