It came as bad news for the interim government of Bangladesh after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of the Donald Trump administration declared that it cannot waste US taxpayers money and they are cancelling a few projects, including one in Bangladesh.
The step has been taken to cut the government’s spending. The DOGE-led by world’s richest person and Tesla CEO said it is cancelling a $29 million funding intended for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh”.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) posted on X, “USD 29M to ‘strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh.”
On the other hand, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, claimed that the nation will soon have satellite internet service as he has discussed with Tesla CEO Elon Musk a potential collaboration to launch Starlink in Bangladesh.
Yunus on Thursday held an extensive video discussion with Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, to make further progress in introducing Starlink satellite to enhance internet service in Bangladesh.
Professor Yunus also extended an invitation to Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch of Starlink services, underscoring the significance of this initiative for national development, to which Musk responded positively.
“I look forward to it,” Musk said.
During their conversation, Yunus and Musk emphasised the transformational impact of Starlink’s satellite communications, particularly for Bangladesh’s enterprising youth, rural and vulnerable women, and remote communities.
In a post on X, the official DOGE handle listed the number of spending by US taxpayers that have been cancelled, including USD 10 million for “Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision.”
Meanwhile among the list of projects cancelled by DOGE include a USD 22 million in funding intended for ‘voter turnout in India,’ a USD 39 million for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal.
Similarly, USD 1.5 million for “voter confidence” in Liberia, USD 14 million for “social cohesion” in Mali, USD 2.5 million for “inclusive democracies in Southern Africa,” and USD 47 million for “improving learning outcomes in Asia” were also cancelled.
DOGE also announced the cancellation of USD 32 million to the Prague Civil Society Centre, USD 40 million for a “gender equality and women empowerment hub,” and USD 14 million for “improving public procurement” in Serbia.
