Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom in early June to engage in high-level discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles. The visit, expected to take place shortly after Eid-ul-Azha, aims to strengthen bilateral relations and focus on several pressing issues, including migration, money laundering, human rights, investment, and Bangladesh’s forthcoming national elections.
The visit is planned for June 9-13, with officials from both countries currently finalizing the agenda. In addition to the UK’s top leadership, senior officials from Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission will accompany Prof Yunus, underscoring the visit’s focus on recovering assets allegedly laundered abroad by individuals linked to the previous government.
One of the central topics will be the recovery of billions of dollars reportedly laundered overseas during the past 15 years. Bangladesh has accused the previous regime of enabling an estimated $16 billion in annual money laundering, with some of these funds believed to have been transferred to the UK. Prof Yunus is expected to seek the UK government’s support in tracing and repatriating these stolen assets.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has confirmed that asset recovery will be a priority during the talks. Transparency International Bangladesh estimates that between $12 billion and $15 billion has been siphoned off annually, involving trade mis-invoicing, money laundering by manpower brokers, and transfers by foreign nationals working in Bangladesh.
This crackdown follows political changes in Bangladesh after the ousting of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Since then, many top and mid-level leaders of the Awami League (AL), along with bureaucrats and military officers from the previous administration, reportedly fled to the UK and other countries, allegedly taking significant sums of laundered money with them.
Another key issue on the agenda is migration. The UK government has recently intensified efforts to crack down on illegal migration, including that of Bangladeshis living without proper documentation. Bangladesh plans to request more humanitarian treatment for undocumented migrants during the talks, stressing the need for cooperation on this sensitive matter.
Sources estimate that more than one million British-Bangladeshi citizens reside in the UK, although official figures are not comprehensive. The Bangladeshi government intends to work closely with the UK to improve documentation and address the challenges faced by this large diaspora community.
Trade and investment cooperation will also feature prominently. The UK has long been one of Bangladesh’s most important trading partners. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s exports to the UK amounted to approximately $4.48 billion, with bilateral trade reaching around $5 billion by mid-2024.
Despite a 21% decline in bilateral trade compared to the previous year—attributed mainly to Brexit-related tariff issues and global supply chain disruptions—the UK remains Bangladesh’s third-largest export destination. Over 240 UK companies have invested significantly in Bangladesh, spanning sectors like textiles, banking, and education.
Prof Yunus will use the visit to invite UK entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh, highlighting the success of the recent investment summit held in April. The UK led net foreign direct investment inflows into Bangladesh in 2022 and 2023, demonstrating the strength of economic ties between the two nations.
Humanitarian cooperation is another important area for discussion. Bangladesh continues to host hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees, and the UK has provided significant aid to support both refugees and host communities.
In 2024, the UK pledged an additional £12 million in humanitarian assistance, focusing on clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection for vulnerable groups, including women and children. The UK also supports capacity-building programs to create sustainable mechanisms for refugee support.
Prof Yunus is expected to seek greater UK involvement in addressing these humanitarian challenges during his visit.
Bangladesh is undergoing significant political reforms following the interim government’s formation after the August 2024 crisis. The UK has been a vocal supporter of Bangladesh’s efforts to strengthen democracy, promote transparency, and enhance governance.
British officials have repeatedly expressed their commitment to assisting Bangladesh with democratic consolidation and institutional strengthening. During recent visits by UK ministers to Dhaka, the importance of rule of law, accountability, and good governance has been emphasized.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has underlined that the interim government holds no political ambitions and is solely focused on establishing a robust democratic environment. He conveyed this message to UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine West during her visit to Dhaka last November.
Touhid also highlighted the importance of confidential cooperation with the UK to trace and repatriate stolen assets, which remains a top priority for the interim government.
The planned visit of Prof Yunus reflects the deepening partnership between Bangladesh and the UK across political, economic, and humanitarian domains. As Bangladesh approaches graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2026, both nations are keen to strengthen ties in trade, investment, governance, migration, climate change, and education.
Despite global economic uncertainties and regional political transitions, the bilateral relationship continues to grow, with both sides committed to working together for mutual benefit.
Prof Yunus’s upcoming visit is expected to further solidify this cooperation, laying the groundwork for a new chapter in Bangladesh-UK relations.
