Countering Terrorism through a Strengthened Rule of Law Framework in Bangladesh | SFOP0005052

Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005052

The grant opportunity titled "Countering Terrorism through a Strengthened Rule of Law Framework in Bangladesh" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005052) was issued by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism (CFDA 19.701). It is a discretionary grant aimed at improving Bangladesh's ability to respond to terrorism and terrorist financing by strengthening how its courts apply and enforce the Antiterrorism Act of 2009, as amended in 2013. The overall intent is to ensure terrorism-related cases are handled effectively while staying firmly grounded in rule of law principles, meaning consistent legal standards, fair process, and credible judicial outcomes.

A central feature of this opportunity is that it is designed to complement existing U.S.-funded assistance already being delivered to other parts of Bangladesh's criminal justice system, specifically programs supporting prosecutors, investigators, and regulators through the Department of Justice's Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). In other words, the State Department is looking for proposals that fill the judicial-side gap: while OPDAT-backed work strengthens investigation and prosecution, this project focuses on ensuring the judiciary can manage, hear, and decide terrorism cases competently and consistently. The target participants for the proposed activities are judges, magistrates, law clerks, and other judicial personnel who directly support courtroom operations and decision-making.

The solicitation lays out three required focus areas that proposals must address. First, applicants are expected to help develop a unified judicial practice for handling terrorism, terrorism financing, and money laundering cases. This is essentially about standardizing and improving how courts approach these complex matters so that similar cases are treated consistently across jurisdictions, and so that judicial decisions reflect clear, rule-of-law-based reasoning. That can involve efforts like promoting shared guidance, consistent courtroom procedures, bench references, or structured approaches to evidentiary and procedural issues that commonly arise in these cases, always emphasizing legality, due process, and judicial integrity.

Second, proposals must strengthen the capacity of the judiciary to implement Bangladesh's Antiterrorism Act effectively through improved adjudication of terrorism, money laundering, and terrorism financing cases. The emphasis here is practical: building the skills and knowledge needed to manage the specialized legal and factual issues that come with terrorism and financial crime litigation. This may include improving understanding of relevant statutory requirements, standards for handling sensitive evidence, courtroom management in high-risk proceedings, and the legal connections between terrorism, illicit finance, and money laundering. The end goal is not only more capable courts, but also more credible and legally sound outcomes that can withstand scrutiny and reinforce public trust.

Third, the opportunity calls for developing administrative capacity within courts to streamline terrorism case management and address significant backlogs. This component recognizes that even strong substantive legal knowledge is not enough if courts are overloaded or lack systems to move cases efficiently. The project is expected to help courts improve processes for tracking terrorism-related cases, scheduling hearings, managing filings, coordinating among court staff, and reducing delays that can weaken cases and erode confidence in justice institutions. The focus on backlogs suggests that improving workflow, recordkeeping, and operational planning is a major priority alongside legal training.

From a funding standpoint, the Bureau of Counterterrorism anticipated making one award, with an award ceiling of $2,962,500. Eligible applicants were limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations holding 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was created on May 9, 2018, with an original closing date of June 11, 2018. Overall, the grant is structured to strengthen Bangladesh's judicial ability to resolve terrorism and terrorism-financing cases more consistently, more efficiently, and more fairly, aligning counterterrorism objectives with the broader goal of reinforcing rule of law institutions.

• The Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Countering Terrorism through a Strengthened Rule of Law Framework in Bangladesh" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.701.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 09, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,962,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for SFOP0005052

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