Former Bangladeshi Minister Claims US Agencies, Clintons Supported Hasina’s Ouster

A former Bangladeshi minister has alleged that the 2024 unrest leading to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was supported by American organizations, including USAID and entities linked to the Clinton family.

In an exclusive interview with RT, former shipping minister and chief government negotiator Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury claimed that several U.S.-based organizations had been working for years to undermine Hasina’s administration.

“Certain actions of some NGOs, especially from the United States — naming a few, I mean USAID, for example, or the International Republican Institute (IRI) — they were running campaigns against our government for a while, since 2018,” Chowdhury said.

Background to the 2024 Crisis

The allegations come more than a year after Hasina’s fall from power following widespread protests that began over civil service job quotas. The demonstrations, initially led by students, escalated into violent riots across Bangladesh, leaving over 700 people dead, according to official figures from the interim government.

Hasina, who had served as prime minister for 15 years at the helm of the Awami League, fled the country in August 2024 when protesters stormed her official residence. Soon after, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed as chief adviser of the interim government.

Claims of Western Involvement

Chowdhury described the unrest not as a spontaneous uprising but as a “carefully planned” movement funded by foreign interests.

“There is a nexus between the Clinton family and the interim Yunus regime from a very long past,” he alleged.
“These activities were going on quietly for years. Funding of clandestine NGOs was happening, and they were determined to change the government in Bangladesh.”

He questioned the disbursement of USAID funds, claiming that millions of dollars were unaccounted for.

“IRI was active, USAID’s funding was going nowhere. Where had that money gone? It was destined for regime-change activities,” he said.

Geopolitical Shifts Under the Interim Government

Since Yunus assumed leadership, analysts note that Bangladesh’s foreign policy has appeared to move away from India and toward Pakistan, a notable shift in regional alignment.

Dhaka has reportedly sought to improve ties with Islamabad, which have remained strained since Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence, when the country separated from Pakistan.

Millions of people were killed during the conflict, and Bangladesh has repeatedly demanded an official apology for atrocities allegedly committed by the Pakistani military.

In response to renewed diplomatic overtures, Pakistan’s then–Defense Minister Aziz Ahmed stated that his country “condemned and deeply regretted” any violations committed during the 1971 conflict.

No Response Yet from the U.S.

As of publication, neither USAID nor representatives of the Clinton Foundation have issued any response to Chowdhury’s claims. The U.S. State Department has also not commented on the allegations.

Source: RT