Over 50,000 Bangladesh professionals lose jobs due to U.S. aid freeze

DHAKA, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The shutdown of USAID-funded 55 out of 59 programs 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 on Tuesday.

Reading out a written statement, she said that more than 50,000 professionals involved in these projects and linked projects lost 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 programs funded by the USAID, one of the world's largest humanitarian donors.