Published: June 12, 2025, 02:18 PM
Starmer under scrutiny as Bangladesh’s anti-corruption drive targets billions allegedly laundered into the UK during Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declined a request to meet with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during the latter’s visit to London, the Financial Times reports. Yunus is currently on a mission to garner international support for recovering billions of dollars allegedly siphoned out of Bangladesh by the deposed regime of Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement to the FT, Yunus emphasized that the UK has a "moral and legal obligation" to assist Bangladesh in tracing and repatriating the stolen funds—much of which, he claims, is hidden in the UK. “I have no direct conversation with him
,” Yunus said, though he remained hopeful of gaining the prime minister’s support.The UK government confirmed to the FT that no meeting between Starmer and Yunus was currently scheduled, refusing to comment further.
The absence of a meeting stirred controversy after Yunus’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam inaccurately claimed that Starmer was unavailable because he was not in the UK—an assertion swiftly debunked on social media.
The visit comes as Bangladesh’s new administration intensifies its investigations into financial corruption under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to Bangladeshi officials, as much as $234 billion was embezzled during her tenure, with the UK among the key destinations for the illicit funds.
Yunus’ campaign has also placed pressure on Labour Party figures. Tulip Siddiq—Starmer ally, former anti-corruption minister, and niece of Sheikh Hasina—resigned earlier this year amid corruption allegations linked to Awami League associates. Siddiq, who denies wrongdoing, recently reached out to Yunus requesting a meeting to "clear up misunderstandings"—an offer he declined, citing the matter as part of a broader legal investigation.
“This is not personal involving me,” Yunus said. “It’s a legal issue… a legal process.”
Despite the setback, Yunus insisted that the UK visit was “just the beginning.” He named Canada, Singapore, the Caribbean, and the Middle East as other havens for misappropriated Bangladeshi assets, and said his administration was seeking help from British businesses, financial institutions, police, and intelligence services.
“We need the support from the people of Great Britain,” Yunus stated, adding that his team still hopes to secure a meeting with Prime Minister Starmer in the future.
