UK’s Starmer snubs Yunus during London visit, refuses to meet Bangladesh chief adviser: Report

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined a request to meet Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who is currently visiting London , according to a report by the Financial Times.

Yunus is in the UK to garner support for recovering billions allegedly stolen by Sheikh Hasina’s former government, according to his claims.

He told the Financial Times that the UK has a “moral responsibility” to assist the new Bangladeshi government in tracing funds believed to have been siphoned off and concealed, including in the UK.

“I haven’t spoken to him directly,” Yunus said, but emphasised that he remained confident Starmer would support Bangladesh’s recovery efforts.

According to the report, UK officials told the Financial Times that there are currently no plans for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to meet Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, and they declined to comment further.

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Yunus said the UK was already helping to trace the missing funds but stressed it had a “legal and moral” duty to support Bangladesh in recovering the money. He added that the purpose of his visit was to gain stronger backing from the UK.

Yunus has been leading Bangladesh’s interim government since Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led protest in August last year. Hasina has since taken up residence in New Delhi.

In January, Tulip Siddiq — a close Starmer ally and then anti-corruption minister — resigned after facing corruption allegations linked to her connections with Awami League figures, including the receipt of property and other benefits. Notably, Siddiq is the niece of Sheikh Hasina.

PM Modi denies Yunus’ request to stop Hasina’s addresses

Yunus said on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ignored his request to stop former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from making political statements during her stay in India.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Yunus said his government would continue its efforts to extradite Hasina from India so she can face charges in Bangladesh. The country’s International Crimes Tribunal recently indicted her for ordering a police crackdown on protesters last year.

Although Yunus formally holds the position of chief adviser to the interim government, he has been undertaking overseas visits and engaging in diplomatic activities.

Met with protests upon arrival

Upon arriving in London, Yunus was met with protests outside his hotel on Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of British Bangladeshis, linked to the UK branch of the Awami League and its allied groups, gathered outside the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, chanting slogans and telling him to “go back.” They accused his government of human rights abuses, lynchings, killings, and a deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh.

Protesters held placards calling him the “architect of mob rule” and accused him of freeing extremists while jailing patriots. They also demanded his resignation.