Dhaka: In a diplomatic setback, Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faced an unexpected snub during his visit to London. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly declined Yunus’s request for a meeting, marking the second such refusal from a major world leader in less than a month. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously turned down a bilateral meeting request in May.
Yunus is in London seeking international support to recover billions of dollars allegedly siphoned out of Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s 16-year rule. According to the Financial Times, Yunus claims that approximately $234 billion was illicitly transferred abroad to destinations including the UK, Canada, Singapore, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters, Yunus stated, “Britain has a moral responsibility to support the new government of Bangladesh in tracking and repatriating stolen national wealth.” He further alleged that many individuals involved in the misappropriation of funds have now settled in the UK and urged British authorities to assist in their identification and prosecution.
Although PM Starmer has not granted an audience, Yunus expressed hope that the UK’s new Labour government will extend support to his administration’s anti-corruption efforts. “This is not a political issue, but a matter of national looting,” he asserted.
UK Authorities Take Initial Action
Britain’s National Crime Agency has already taken limited steps, placing freezing orders on two London properties linked to Salman F Rahman’s son, a close aide to Sheikh Hasina. Properties linked to former minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury have also reportedly been seized.
Yunus welcomed these developments but emphasized the need for “stronger and more enthusiastic support” from UK institutions, including banks, intelligence agencies, and corporate partners. “This trip is just the beginning,” he noted.
Tulip Siddiq Seeks Meeting, Yunus Declines
Interestingly, Labour MP Tulip Siddiq—niece of Sheikh Hasina and former UK Minister for Anti-Corruption—requested a meeting with Yunus, which he declined. “This is not a personal matter; it is entirely legal in nature,” Yunus clarified.
Siddiq had resigned from her ministerial post earlier this year amid allegations of receiving property and favors from Hasina’s close aides, charges she has denied.
Yunus’s London visit has generated considerable attention as the interim Bangladeshi administration tries to position itself as a reformist government cracking down on financial corruption. The diplomatic cold shoulder from Starmer, however, signals the challenges ahead for Yunus in gaining global political backing for his recovery campaign.
