US cancels financial aid for democratic practices in Bangladesh, India

US President Donald Trump’s administration has cancelled foreign aid for supporting democratic practices in a number of countries including Bangladesh and India, for saving American taxpayers’ money.

The US Department of Government Efficiency, headed by world’s richest person Elon Musk, announced the cuts in a post on X, formerly twitter, early Sunday.

As per the post, $29 million earmarked for “strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh,” while $21 million for voter turnout in India will not be disbursed.

The United States is the largest single donor of aid globally - in fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance.

The post revealed cancellation of a number of other US foreign aid programmes including the $20 million “fiscal federalism” initiative in Nepal, $19 million biodiversity conservation project in Nepal, $40 million for gender equality, $486 million for the Consortium of Elections and Political Process Strengthening, and others.