Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to meet Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, during his visit to London is more than a diplomatic slight. It risks signaling indifference toward Bangladesh’s effort to recover billions of dollars allegedly looted under the former regime of Sheikh Hasina, some of which is believed to be hidden in the UK.
Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has led the interim government since student protests forced Hasina from power in August. His administration is investigating the disappearance of an estimated $234 billion in public assets. The UK is reportedly a prime destination for this wealth. Yet Starmer has not agreed to meet Yunus or publicly support the recovery process.
This silence is concerning. The UK’s National Crime Agency has already frozen two London properties linked to allies of Hasina, showing that British authorities acknowledge the seriousness of the allegations. Still, high-level political engagement remains absent.
The situation is complicated further by political ties within the Labour Party. Tulip Siddiq, a sitting MP and Hasina’s niece, resigned from her ministerial post in January following corruption allegations. While she denies wrongdoing, her relationship to Hasina and connection to Starmer raise questions about Labour’s impartiality.
Bangladesh’s call for help is not symbolic. Yunus has asked for legal, financial, and institutional support to recover stolen assets. He has also emphasized the moral responsibility of the UK, given that some of the funds may be held in British jurisdictions.
The refusal to meet Yunus, even as the UK claims to support anti-corruption efforts, weakens that position. It also risks damaging bilateral relations with a key South Asian nation undergoing a fragile transition.
Bangladesh has the right to expect cooperation, not evasion. The UK should account for this misstep and engage in good faith. Otherwise, Bangladesh may need to pursue stronger international pressure to secure what was stolen from its people.