The United States has a long history of providing financial assistance to Bangladesh, including funds aimed at political projects, governance, and democratic development. Below is an overview of U.S. money spent and promised for such initiatives based on available information as of February 20, 2025.

Historical Spending on Political and Related Projects

The U.S. has been a significant donor to Bangladesh since its independence in 1971, with aid encompassing humanitarian, economic, and political objectives. While exact figures for “political projects” alone are not always isolated in public records, several initiatives explicitly tied to political development, governance, and democracy promotion provide insight:

• Post-Independence Aid (1970s): After recognizing Bangladesh in 1972, the U.S. pledged approximately $300 million in initial aid, which included humanitarian and developmental support but was also influenced by political motives to mend relations strained during the Liberation War. By 1973, this had grown to over $318 million, with an additional $100 million anticipated that year, partly driven by political and pragmatic goals to stabilize the new nation.
• Democratic Participation and Reform Program (DPR, 2011): Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK’s DFID, this program sought to enhance grassroots political participation, particularly among women and youth, improve political parties’ access to information, and foster a responsive political environment. While specific costs for DPR are not fully detailed in public sources, it was a multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative emblematic of U.S. efforts to shape Bangladesh’s political landscape.
• Recent USAID Commitments (2021–2026): Under a 2021 agreement, USAID pledged $954 million over five years to support Bangladesh’s development, including governance and political resilience. By September 2024, $425 million had been disbursed, and an additional $202 million was promised during a U.S. delegation visit to Dhaka on September 15, 2024. This grant aimed to promote “good governance, social, human, and economic opportunity, and resilience,” reflecting a blend of political and developmental goals following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
• Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Revelations (2025): In February 2025, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, under the Trump administration, announced the cancellation of $29 million intended for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.” This funding, previously allocated by USAID, was part of a broader slate of international projects axed to cut taxpayer spending. The exact recipients and implementation details remain unclear, but the cancellation sparked speculation about its intended political influence.

Promised but Unfulfilled or Canceled Funds

• Pre-2025 USAID Plans: Prior to the DOGE cancellation, USAID had been linked to initiatives like the Consortium for Elections & Political Process Strengthening, which reportedly allocated funds (e.g., $21 million cited in some contexts, though possibly conflated with India-focused spending) for political activities in Bangladesh. Posts on X in early 2025 suggested ongoing USAID spending through July 2025, even under Bangladesh’s unelected interim government, though these claims lack precise verification.
• Response to 2024 Political Upheaval: After Sheikh Hasina’s departure and the establishment of an interim government under Muhammad Yunus, the U.S. signaled willingness to support reforms to judiciary, police, and financial institutions. The $202 million pledged in September 2024 included technical and financial assistance for these reforms, though full disbursement details remain pending as of February 2025.

Context and Controversy

• Political Influence Allegations: Critics, including some X users and analysts like Mike Benz, have alleged that U.S. funds—particularly through USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)—were used to destabilize Bangladesh’s politics, citing programs like “Countering Misinformation” workshops and support for cultural influencers. These claims suggest a strategic intent beyond stated governance goals, though concrete evidence tying funds to specific regime-change efforts is inconclusive.
• Strategic Shifts Under Trump (2025): The Trump administration’s aid freeze, announced in January 2025, and subsequent DOGE cuts reflect a pivot away from such engagements. This shift has raised concerns about Bangladesh turning to China for support, altering the geopolitical balance in South Asia.

Total Estimates

• Cumulative Aid: Over 50 years, the U.S. has invested over $8 billion in Bangladesh, per the State Department, with a significant portion supporting governance and political stability indirectly through health, education, and food security programs. Direct political project spending is harder to isolate but likely constitutes tens of millions annually in recent decades.
• Recent Specifics: Between 2021 and 2025, at least $656 million ($425 million spent + $202 million pledged + $29 million canceled) is traceable to politically tinged initiatives, though this is a subset of broader aid.

In summary, U.S. money spent and promised for political projects in Bangladesh spans initial post-independence aid, structured programs like DPR, and recent USAID commitments, totaling hundreds of millions over decades. The $29 million cancellation in 2025 underscores ongoing debates about the intent and impact of such funding, with political stabilization efforts often intertwined with broader developmental aims. For precise breakdowns beyond these estimates, official USAID or State Department records would be required, though they are not fully public as of now.