Foreign Advisor Mohammad Tofail Hossain stated on Tuesday that Dhaka-Washington relations will not be affected by Bangladesh's dismissal of US President Donald Trump's recent claims as "untrue." Responding to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain emphasized that the government found no evidence to support Trump's allegations regarding a $29 million USAID project in Bangladesh.

Regarding India's visa policies for Bangladeshi citizens, Hossain clarified that the decision to grant or deny visas is entirely India's sovereign right. He noted that Bangladesh respects India's authority in this matter and hopes for improved visa processing to facilitate travel between the two nations.

Hossain also addressed concerns over Trump's remarks about the USAID-funded "Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL)" project, which he claimed had been awarded to a Bangladesh-based organization owned by two individuals. The Foreign Advisor refuted these claims, stating that the project was awarded to Democracy International (DI), a US-registered entity, through a transparent and competitive bidding process. He added that such projects are implemented under bilateral development agreements, leaving no room for individual influence.

The SPL project, aimed at reducing political violence and promoting peaceful coexistence among political parties, was initially a five-year initiative with a $14 million budget, later extended with additional funding. Hossain reiterated that the government found no basis for Trump's allegations and sees no reason for bilateral relations to be strained over the matter.

In a separate response, Hossain echoed Prime Minister's Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus's call for mutual respect and cooperation in Bangladesh-India relations, emphasizing the importance of advancing ties based on shared interests.

The Foreign Ministry earlier issued a statement clarifying that the SPL project was implemented in accordance with USAID's financial management policies, ensuring transparency and accountability. The government maintains that Trump's comments were unfounded and should not impact the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the United States.