As Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Md Yunus prepares to leave London on Friday, uncertainty surrounds a much-anticipated meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—one that now appears increasingly unlikely to occur. While officials in Dhaka previously claimed that the meeting had been scheduled, Starmer’s office has since notified Yunus that no such engagement is currently planned.
Yunus arrived in the UK three days ago, reportedly believing that meetings with both the British Prime Minister and the monarch had been confirmed. However, confusion quickly set in after his arrival. Initial explanations from his delegation suggested that Starmer was abroad in Canada, only for it to later be revealed that the British Prime Minister was, in fact, in the UK—occupied with budget discussions. The series of contradictions has raised questions over whether Downing Street had ever formally agreed to such meetings in the first place.
The situation has caused diplomatic embarrassment for Bangladesh, with critics suggesting that the failure to secure a high-level meeting could damage Yunus’s credibility and reflect poorly on the country’s international image.
Yunus’s visit comes amid heightened political tensions at home. On Wednesday evening, during a discussion at Chatham House—the Royal Institute of International Affairs—he faced sharp criticism from participants, many of whom were British citizens of Bangladeshi heritage. They raised concerns about alleged democratic erosion, human rights violations, press restrictions, and controversial political reforms implemented under Yunus’s interim administration.
At the event, one attendee challenged Yunus over his earlier promise to hold national elections in April, pointing to the ban on the Awami League, the dissolution of the Election Commission’s registration, and the imprisonment of thousands of political activists. Struggling to provide specific answers, Yunus claimed the upcoming elections would be the “most beautiful” in the nation’s history and insisted that citizens were “eager to vote again.”
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He also promised to honour “the dreams of the young people who gave their lives” and shared his aspiration for a “new Bangladesh.” However, when asked why he was pushing structural reforms based on the views of a select few instead of seeking broader electoral consensus, Yunus conceded, “It would have been better if it were like that,” citing what he described as the country’s “complicated situation.”
Another source of tension at the Chatham House event was the July Charter—Yunus’s sweeping reform plan. Critics accused him of excluding key political groups, especially the Awami League, from the process. In response, Yunus controversially questioned whether the Awami League should even be seen as a legitimate political party, accusing it of corruption, extrajudicial killings, and intimidation.
Emotions peaked when Yunus was questioned about the demolition of the home of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. Defending the controversial act, Yunus claimed the country had been facing a law-and-order breakdown at the time, adding, “We didn’t know how to handle it.” He insisted, however, that the situation is now stabilising.
Adding to the controversy was Yunus’s refusal to meet Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, the niece of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a prominent figure in British politics. Siddiq, who had stepped down from her cabinet role after allegations of corruption were levelled against the Awami League, had reportedly requested a meeting to present her side—but Yunus declined. Despite her resignation, Siddiq continues to hold influence within the Labour Party and is said to have a close working relationship with Keir Starmer.
Some sources have suggested that the Labour Party itself may be reluctant to formally engage with Yunus, citing serious concerns over his administration’s treatment of opposition parties and civil liberties. Human rights organisations and UK-based advocacy groups have also criticised the arrests of thousands of political workers and the banning of parties, deepening Yunus’s diplomatic challenges.
As the visit draws to a close, the absence of a meeting with the British Prime Minister is increasingly seen as a symbol of the growing diplomatic distance between Yunus’s interim government and the broader international democratic community.
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