Role of US NGOs in Bangladesh ahead of polls sparks debate

The role of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs), particularly the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), in Bangladesh ahead of the general election in February 2026 has sparked a renewed debate in the country on external influences and potential violation of its sovereignty.

The NDI and IRI have reportedly resumed activities in Bangladesh with the stated aim of capacity building, electoral assistance and democracy promotion, but critics have alleged interference by these organisations in the upcoming general election. "The IRI and NDI are not new players in Bangladesh. Their involvement dates back to the 1990s, when they organized training sessions, workshops, and civic programs involving political parties and civil society groups. While their stated mission is to 'strengthen democratic institutions', their global record has often been mixed," said an article published in Dhaka-based Daily Observer last Friday. "Funded largely by the US Congress through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and USAID, these organizations have played controversial roles in countries like Ukraine, Serbia, Venezuela, and Myanmar-often aligning with Washington's broader strategic and geopolitical interests."

The article, titled 'Influence of foreign NGOs in Bangladesh's 2026 elections', said such organisations had come under the scanner earlier. The issue has come to the fore in the backdrop of fresh claims by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on alleged US role in removing her with ground support from Pakistan.


Bangladesh's former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has accused the army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman of staging a "coup" against Hasina in 2024 and acting as an "agent" for the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

"It was a perfect CIA plot hatched over a long period of time to overthrow Hasina. We did not know the CIA had Waker in its pocket," Kamal was quoted as saying in a book titled 'Inshallah Bangladesh: The Story of an Unfinished Revolution'.