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Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to meet with King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London next week. He is scheduled to depart Dhaka for London on June 9th. During this visit, Dr. Yunus will be presented with the King Charles Harmony Award-2025 at an event organized by the British Royal Family. International think tank Chatham House has also finalized its program with Dr. Yunus during this visit. Additionally, there is a program for him to exchange views with the Bangladeshi community, although the date for that program has not yet been finalized.
According to preliminary plans, the Chief Adviser will arrive in London on the night of June 10th and return home on June 13th. On the third day of his visit (the day of the award ceremony), he may have a courtesy meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace in London.
The courtesy meeting timeline with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is still in progress.
There is a possibility of a meeting between the Chief Adviser and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer next Wednesday or Thursday. Furthermore, several British ministers, including Foreign Minister David Lammy, are expected to meet with the Chief Adviser. These programs will be finalized within the next day or two.
Discussions on Money Laundering and the Rohingya Issue
According to relevant sources, the repatriation of laundered money between Bangladesh and the UK will be a significant topic of discussion during the meetings. In March, the Bangladesh government contacted British authorities to impose financial and travel sanctions. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur also met with members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in London to press for swift action against Bangladeshi business groups involved in illicit financial activities. Efforts are underway to persuade the British government to impose sanctions on Bangladeshi money launderers.
The UK also stands with Bangladesh in resolving the Rohingya crisis. The Bangladesh government will seek further assistance from the British government to ensure the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas.
During Dr. Yunus's current government, British Member of Parliament Rupa Huq, of Bangladeshi origin, visited Bangladesh and met with Dr. Yunus. Rupa Haq has spoken in favor of the Yunus government. Those who closely observe Bangladeshi politics are now watching to see what role Rupa Huq plays in Dr. Yunus's London visit. Among the four British-Bangladeshi MPs, Dr. Yunus's government had a significant role in the sequence of events that led to Sheikh Hasina's niece Tulip's resignation.
Tulip Siddiq resigned as the UK's Economic Secretary to the Treasury on January 14, 2025, due to controversy over her family's property acquisitions and ties to her aunt, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Despite an inquiry finding no breach of the ministerial code, Siddiq cited her continuation as a "distraction." Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, called for an investigation into these properties, alleging they were bought with illicit wealth from Hasina's regime. He stated any unlawfully acquired assets should be returned to Bangladesh, calling it "plain robbery," and highlighted the "irony" of an anti-corruption minister being involved in such controversy.
It is not yet confirmed whether Dr. Yunus will have the opportunity to meet or hold discussions with the other two British-Bangladeshi MPs, Rushanara Ali and Apsana Begum, beyond the exchange of views meeting with the Bangladeshi community.
Regarding the visit, Akbar Hossain, Press Minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in the UK, stated that Dr. Yunus's visit has been finalized, and work is underway to finalize his programs here. The date and venue for the exchange of views with the Bangladeshi community are also being worked out, and everything will be finalized within a day or two.
There's a lot of discussion about how the gap between Dr. Yunus's interim government in Bangladesh and the BNP over the election date might be bridged, or even if it will be. Dr. Yunus's trip to London is happening amidst this tension. During his visit, there's widespread speculation about whether he might meet with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the BNP who has been living in London for a long time.No party has yet indicated active attempts to bring them to one table.
When asked if Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of BNP residing in the UK, would be invited to the exchange of views meeting that Bangladesh's Interim Government's Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus will hold with the Bangladeshi community in London, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to the UK, Abida Islam, told to Daily Dazzling Dawn on Tuesday evening, "No comments."
Meanwhile, the UK Awami League is making extensive preparations to stage protests during Dr. Yunus's visit. Syed Sajidur Rahman Faruk, General Secretary of the UK Awami League, told this correspondent on Tuesday night that they would demonstrate wherever Dr. Yunus goes during his visit. To that end, they are holding continuous preparatory meetings.
