The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended all its activities and projects in Bangladesh. The country's State Department has suspended almost all such assistance to Bangladesh, including around the world, immediately after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order.

The executive order has instructed the suspension of work on various projects run by USAID in various countries and additional costs under their contracts. It has also called for the suspension of new assistance.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a cable to all US diplomatic posts on Friday, which threatened billions of dollars in funding for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) global programs.

Diplomatic circles believe that the issuance of Trump's executive order signals a reorientation of 'foreign aid policy' in the United States.

The USAID announcement specifically states that all ongoing USAID Award DEIA projects will be suspended due to the executive order.

Meanwhile, Trump claimed in the executive order that the US foreign assistance system and bureaucracy are not aligned with American interests and in many cases are contrary to American values.

However, an official said that the US interests are linked to the global health-related assistance programs targeted for suspension. These programs have received bipartisan support.

After sea, Pakistan is now going to establish direct communication with Bangladesh by air as well. Direct flights between the two countries will be launched anytime this year. Work is also underway to resolve visa complications to increase bilateral trade.

This time, Bangladesh High Commissioner to the country Mohammad Iqbal Hussain has announced plans to launch direct flights with Pakistan. This will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

This information was reported by Pakistani media outlet Express Tribune in a report on Sunday (January 26).

The media outlet said that while addressing a press conference in Peshawar, the capital of the country's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Iqbal Hussain emphasized the deep and historical relations between the two countries and expressed his intention to launch direct flights to facilitate travel and communication.

He mentioned that such a step would increase cooperation between the two countries in various fields including tourism, education and trade. The High Commissioner also highlighted the growing trade and diplomatic ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan and said that these ties will only grow stronger.

He stressed Bangladesh’s commitment to freedom of expression and noted how social media has empowered the younger generation to speak out for their rights and has contributed to the strong culture of free speech in the country.

High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain also highlighted the huge investment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the healthcare and industrial sectors. He also noted the demand for Bangladeshi products in Pakistan and noted that trade between the two countries is ongoing through the shipping route connecting Chattogram and Karachi.

The High Commissioner also spoke about the upcoming elections in Bangladesh and reiterated his country’s focus on economic development as a top priority. He also praised the Pakistan Air Force for its exceptional capabilities in the defence sector.

The body of a 28-year-old Bangladeshi woman was found in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The local police believe she was raped and murdered.

The body was recovered from Kalkere Lake in Ramamurthy area on Friday (January 24).

The Times of India reported this in a report on Saturday (January 25).

The report said that the woman worked as a domestic help in an apartment. The incident occurred on Thursday after work. On Friday morning, locals found her body in a secluded area. They immediately informed the police.

The woman's husband is a cleaner. She lived in North Bengaluru with her husband and three children. They have three children.

A police officer said that the deceased woman is a Bangladeshi national who had been living here for six years. She did not have any valid documents. However, her husband has a valid passport and entered India on a medical visa.

On Thursday, the woman told her colleague that she had some personal work and might be late. So she asked her colleague to leave without her. However, when she was late returning home, her husband filed a complaint at the Ramamurthy Nagar police station.

The police officer further said that it is believed that the woman had voluntarily gone to a secluded place to meet someone she knew. However, her body was found on Friday morning. She had serious injuries on her head.

After receiving information about the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of East Division Devaraj visited the spot along with forensic experts and a dog squad.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with officials of the new US administration. He said that Bangladesh was discussed in the discussions. However, he did not clarify what points were discussed.

Jaishankar said this at a press conference held at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC on Wednesday (January 22).

The video of the press conference was released by the Indian External Affairs Minister on his Verified X (formerly Twitter) account. It was also circulated on the website of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. In the video, Jaishankar can be heard answering questions from journalists on various issues including India-US relations.

The Indian External Affairs Minister, who is in the United States to attend Trump's inauguration ceremony, met with the country's new Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Walz in Washington DC.

According to India's state news agency PTI, at the very end of the press conference at the Indian embassy, an Indian journalist asked Jaishankar whether there was any discussion on the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh in his meeting with US National Security Advisor Mike Walz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In response, Jaishankar said, "Yes, we had a brief discussion on Bangladesh. I don't think it would be appropriate to talk in detail about it."

Replied to a question on the future relations between India and the US, Jaishankar said that the Donald Trump administration has a clear interest in taking the relationship between the two countries forward. It is very clear that the new administration wanted India to be present at Trump's inauguration ceremony. They are prioritizing bilateral relations.

In addition, he was also present at the foreign ministerial-level meeting of the four-nation alliance Quad consisting of the US, India, Australia and Japan.

Meanwhile, a press release about Jaishankar's meeting with Marco Rubio on Tuesday was published on the US State Department website. The statement was issued by the new US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. It said that the foreign ministers of the two countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the partnership between the United States and India. The two discussed regional issues, opportunities to deepen the US-India relationship, critical and emerging technologies, defense assistance, energy, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.