Yunus to Visit UK in June to Boost Bangladesh-UK Ties

Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, is set to visit the United Kingdom in early June to hold high-level talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles. Scheduled shortly after Eid-ul-Azha, the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and address critical issues including migration, money laundering, human rights, investment, and Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections.

The visit is slated for June 9-13, with the agendas being finalized by officials from both nations. Accompanying Prof Yunus will be senior representatives from Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission, highlighting a key focus on recovering assets allegedly laundered abroad by individuals linked to the previous administration.

A central point of discussion will be the recovery of billions of dollars reportedly laundered overseas over the last 15 years. Bangladesh accuses the former government of facilitating approximately $16 billion annually in illicit money flows, with a significant portion believed to have been transferred to the UK. Prof Yunus is expected to seek strong UK cooperation in tracing and repatriating these stolen assets.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has confirmed that asset recovery will be a top priority during the visit. Transparency International Bangladesh estimates that between $12 billion and $15 billion is siphoned off each year through trade mis-invoicing, money laundering by manpower brokers, and transfers by foreign nationals working in Bangladesh.

This crackdown follows the political shift after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Since then, many senior and mid-level leaders of the Awami League, along with bureaucrats and military officials linked to the previous regime, reportedly fled to the UK and other countries, allegedly taking large sums of laundered money with them.

Migration issues will also feature prominently in the talks. The UK government has recently intensified its crackdown on illegal immigration, including on Bangladeshis without valid documentation. Bangladesh intends to request more humanitarian treatment for undocumented migrants and to enhance bilateral cooperation on this sensitive issue.

It is estimated that over one million British-Bangladeshi citizens live in the UK, though official figures remain incomplete. The Bangladeshi government seeks to work closely with the UK to improve documentation and resolve challenges faced by this significant diaspora community.

Trade and investment cooperation remains a vital pillar of the Bangladesh-UK relationship. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s exports to the UK reached approximately $4.48 billion, with total bilateral trade hitting around $5 billion by mid-2024.

Despite a 21% drop in trade compared to the previous year—largely due to Brexit-related tariff complications and global supply chain disruptions—the UK remains Bangladesh’s third-largest export destination. Over 240 UK companies have invested in Bangladesh across diverse sectors such as textiles, banking, and education.

During his visit, Prof Yunus will invite UK entrepreneurs to invest further in Bangladesh, highlighting the success of the recent investment summit held in April. The UK led net foreign direct investment inflows to Bangladesh in both 2022 and 2023, underscoring the strength of economic ties.

Humanitarian cooperation will also be on the agenda, especially concerning the Rohingya refugee crisis. Bangladesh hosts hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, with the UK providing significant aid to support both refugees and host communities.

In 2024, the UK pledged an additional £12 million to humanitarian efforts, focusing on clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection for vulnerable groups, including women and children. The UK also supports capacity-building programs to ensure sustainable refugee support mechanisms.

Prof Yunus is expected to seek increased UK involvement in these humanitarian challenges during the visit.

Political reforms in Bangladesh remain a crucial context for the visit. Since the formation of the interim government after the August 2024 crisis, the UK has consistently supported Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen democracy, promote transparency, and improve governance.

British officials have expressed ongoing commitment to assisting Bangladesh in democratic consolidation and institutional development. During recent UK ministerial visits to Dhaka, the emphasis was placed on upholding the rule of law, accountability, and good governance.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stressed that the interim government holds no political ambitions beyond establishing a stable democratic environment. He conveyed this message to UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West during her visit to Dhaka in November 2024.

Touhid also highlighted the importance of confidential cooperation with the UK to trace and repatriate stolen assets, which remains a top priority.

Prof Yunus’s visit reflects a deepening partnership between Bangladesh and the UK across political, economic, and humanitarian fields. As Bangladesh approaches its graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2026, both nations are keen to strengthen collaboration on trade, investment, governance, migration, climate change, and education.

Despite ongoing global economic challenges and regional political transitions, the Bangladesh-UK relationship continues to grow, with both sides committed to mutual progress.

Prof Yunus’s upcoming visit promises to further solidify this cooperation and pave the way for a new chapter in bilateral relations.