British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refused to meet Bangladesh’s interim leader Professor Muhammad Yunus during his visit to London, despite growing calls for the UK to support efforts to recover billions laundered out of Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina’s regime.
Yunus, who is spearheading Bangladesh’s campaign to reclaim stolen public wealth, told the Financial Times that he received no response from Starmer’s office. “This is stolen money,” Yunus said, calling on the UK to fulfill its moral and legal responsibility to cooperate.
The refusal comes just months after a major embarrassment for Starmer’s government — the resignation of City Minister Tulip Siddiq in January. Siddiq, a niece of Sheikh Hasina, was named in Bangladesh’s anti-corruption investigation for allegedly benefiting from money tied to the former regime. While Starmer publicly backed her at first, she was forced to step down the very next day, following intense media and political pressure.
The UK’s National Crime Agency has since frozen properties worth £90 million linked to allies of the Hasina family — a move that gave legitimacy to the ongoing investigation led by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission.
Analysts say Starmer’s silence and avoidance reflect unease within the Labour Party, especially amid speculation that some laundered funds may have indirectly supported political activities in the UK. Yunus, however, insists his mission is not political. “This is about justice,” he said.
Despite the cold shoulder from Downing Street, Yunus has pledged to continue seeking international cooperation, saying the UK cannot ignore its role as a destination for embezzled public money.
