Fulbright scholar Aubrey Lay was supposed to receive three months’ worth of payments from the U.S. government for his teaching assistantship at a school for Ukrainian refugees in Estonia. However, he only received approximately one week’s pay, with no indication of when the rest of his grant would be disbursed, reports AP. US agents arrest Palestinian activist who led Columbia University protests Lay is one of many scholars worldwide who rely on State Department funding to participate in long-standing programmes such as Fulbright. These scholars report that their payments were suddenly halted after being informed that their activities were under review. This decision appears to align with the White House’s push to significantly reduce government spending, a shift that has affected numerous federal agencies. In the coming weeks and months, the government is set to undergo even more drastic changes. President Donald Trump has instructed agencies to develop plans for extensive layoffs, known as reductions in force, which will likely result in scaled-back operations at agencies delivering essential services. The funding freeze has left thousands of scholars stranded outside their home countries, uncertain about the future of their programmes or how they will sustain themselves financially. In February, the U.S. State Department temporarily halted spending to conduct a review of its programmes and activities, according to NAFSA, an association of international educators. This pause included initiatives such as the Fulbright, Gilman, and Critical Language international scholarships. Since the spending freeze was implemented, scholars and advocacy groups have reported that grant payments have stopped, with no communication from U.S. officials regarding whether the situation will change. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment on the funding suspension. Lay expressed frustration over the lack of communication from U.S. officials. He also worried about the future of a programme that his grandmother had taken part in decades ago. Established in 1946, Fulbright has become a flagship initiative for the U.S. government’s cross-cultural engagement efforts. However, his biggest concern is the impact on his students if he is forced to leave prematurely. “I don’t want to be yet another source of instability and uncertainty in their lives,” Lay said. “That thought is unbearable to me.” Lay said he could manage for another month, but he feared for participants who lacked financial savings. “The only clarity I have is that nobody knows what’s happening,” he said. “Every time I ask someone, they have no answers and are just as confused as I am.” According to the Fulbright Association, a nonprofit comprising programme alumni, thousands of scholars are in situations similar to Lay’s. In a newsletter email, the association reported that the funding halt affects “over 12,500 American students, youth, and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to take part in State Department programmes over the next six months.” Beyond U.S. citizens, the Fulbright Association noted that the pause had also cut funding for U.S.-based programmes that host over 7,400 individuals. Halyna Morozova, a Fulbright scholar from Kyiv who teaches Ukrainian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, had just endured an exhausting day at the airport on 28 February. That same day, President Trump had harshly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a highly unusual Oval Office meeting, leaving Morozova deeply worried about the future of her country and her family back home. Who is Mark Carney, the next prime minister of Canada? Then, she received an email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which administers the Fulbright scholarship. “IIE is currently authorised to send you a partial stipend equivalent to one week of your anticipated upcoming stipend payment,” the email stated. “We will provide updates on future payments as soon as possible.” Morozova panicked. Typically, she received $750 per month. Now, she had to stretch just $187.50 to cover her expenses. “It was terrifying—not only because I am stranded in another country,” she said. “We have no idea if we will receive another stipend here, or even if they have the funds to buy our tickets home. So much is uncertain.” Olga Bezhanova, a professor overseeing Morozova and two other scholars, said the exchange programme had been an integral part of her university’s language education for nearly two decades. Now, she is exploring whether the university can supplement the scholars’ lost funds. If that is not feasible, she admitted she was unsure of what else could be done. “I have to look into the faces of these brilliant individuals as they ask me, ‘Is this really America? What is happening?’” she said. “This is an absolute mess.”

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Saturday called upon genocide scholars, researchers, civil society organisations, human rights activists, print and electronic media to present before the global community the facts and figure of Bangladesh genocide. It is the moral obligation on the States and international community to show due respect to the victims of Bangladesh genocide and thus demonstrate their commitment towards the promotion and protection of human rights, he said. Bangladesh Genocide was hardly discussed and the victims were hardly remembered since 1975 till the Awami League formed the government in 1996, said the State Minister while speaking at a programme marking the Bangladesh Genocide Day at the Liberation War Museum. “Rather deliberate attempts were made to distort the facts and figure of Bangladesh genocide during that period,” he said. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque spoke as the chief guest while President of Asia Justice and Rights Barrister Patrick Burgess presented the keynote speech. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke at the discussion. After the brutal killing of Bangabandhu on 15 August 1975, the State Minister said, a dramatic change appeared to take place in official policy towards the issue of the 1971 genocide under the military government. The Collaborators Act 1972 was repealed, all those leading war criminal-suspects who had fled the country and lost citizenship rights, were invited to return, he said, adding that many of the war criminals were rehabilitated into the mainstream politics and were offered to enjoy state power. The State Minister said around 32 years of 52 years since independence, the government was led by pro-Pakistani forces.  “I can assure everyone today that the government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would continue its sincere efforts to achieve recognition of 1971 genocide in Bangladesh,” Alam said. In view of the then domestic and international context, he said, Bangabandhu declared limited amnesty for the local collaborators in December 1973. However, the amnesty did not cover “anyone who killed people, raped and set fire or caused to damage people's homestead with explosives or convicted for damaging water-transport”. Later, the war criminals and their sympathisers tried to misguide people with distorted facts that Bangabandhu pardoned all, Alam said.   Read more: Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN “The intent was obvious, which was to destroy Bengali nationalism and shatter their political aspiration for a free and independent Bangladesh. So, it was cool-headed and deliberate act of genocide from their part,” said the State Minister. He said the government has incorporated the history of the 1971 war and the genocide into the national curriculum. “This is aimed at ensuring that future generations are aware of the atrocities that took place and are committed to preventing similar events from occurring in the future.” The State Minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is firmly committed to continue its efforts towards recognition by global community of the historical facts of Bangladesh genocide and the importance of preventing such acts of genocide from occurring in future anywhere in the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Missions abroad have been actively working to internationalize the issue of the genocide committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, he said. As a result of our combined efforts, he said, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention recognized the Bangladesh genocide 1971 on 31 December 2022. “We also welcome recent bipartisan move in the US Congress for recognition of genocide committed by the Pakistani army in Bangladesh. We will continue to welcome any such initiatives by friendly countries while highlighting correct perspective of the Bangladesh Genocide,” he said. Alam said media can also play a key role in mobilizing public opinion and shaping international responses to the genocide. “The reporting of the international media has provided us a strong record of genocide, which has been important and will remain useful to hold the perpetrators accountable and get the recognition of Bangladesh genocide by the wider global community,” he said.    

The International Advisory Board of the Silk Road Think Tank Association has held a videoconference and released a statement, calling for strengthening international cooperation in fight against COVID-19.