UK PM Keir Starmer Declines Meeting with Bangladesh Interim Chief Muhammad Yunus Amid Heated Protests in London
In what is being viewed as a significant diplomatic setback, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly refused to meet Muhammad Yunus, the interim Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s controversial caretaker government, who is currently on a four-day visit to the United Kingdom.
The British government has confirmed that Prime Minister Starmer has no scheduled plans to meet Yunus, despite extensive media speculation, particularly from Bangladeshi outlets, that such a meeting might take place. Officials from Downing Street have remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the decision, offering no further comments.
Yunus, the Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer-turned-political figure, has been under intense scrutiny since assuming power ten months ago in Bangladesh. His visit to the UK has sparked widespread protests from members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, especially supporters of the Awami League, who have accused him of political overreach, human rights violations, and anti-democratic practices.
Protests Break Out Across London
The controversy began as soon as Yunus landed in London on Tuesday. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Heathrow Airport and outside a central London hotel where Yunus is staying. Protesters, many waving black flags and holding signs reading "Yunus is a killer of freedom fighters of Liberation War" and "Go back Yunus", staged loud and coordinated demonstrations.
Eyewitnesses described a volatile scene as Yunus's convoy left the airport, with shoes and eggs being thrown by protestors who had assembled along the motorcade’s route. The protestors allege that Yunus is promoting militancy and radicalism in Bangladesh, and they demanded his resignation and trial. Some protestors also called for the release of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who they claim has been unjustly detained under the Yunus regime.
UK National Security Advisor Meets Yunus Privately
While PM Starmer has distanced himself from the visit, Yunus did manage to secure a private meeting with UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell on Wednesday, according to sources close to the Bangladeshi delegation. The meeting reportedly took place at the hotel where Yunus is currently staying. However, the specifics of what was discussed remain undisclosed.
Despite the scaled-down official engagement, Bangladeshi media has been widely publicising Yunus’s visit, framing it as a diplomatic effort to bolster the caretaker government’s legitimacy on the global stage. But Yunus himself admitted in a British press interview that no confirmation had come from Prime Minister Starmer's office regarding any bilateral engagement.
Awami League’s UK Wing Sends Strong Message to Downing Street
Adding to the diplomatic blow, the UK wing of the Awami League has formally written to several key British institutions—including 10 Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the King's Foundation, and the Commonwealth Secretariat—urging them not to recognise or engage with the Yunus-led government.
The letter sharply criticized the current Bangladeshi administration for its handling of economic challenges, rising political suppression, and human rights violations—especially those targeting women and minority communities. It argued that a meeting between PM Starmer and Yunus would send a damaging message about the UK’s commitment to democratic values and rule of law.
Mounting International Pressure
The ongoing protests and PM Starmer’s diplomatic snub underscore the growing international skepticism surrounding the legitimacy of Yunus’s interim administration. With critics pointing to Bangladesh's economic downturn, lack of electoral transparency, and suppression of dissent, questions about the caretaker government’s global standing continue to intensify.
Although Yunus remains an influential figure with a global reputation rooted in humanitarian work and microfinance innovation, his political role in Bangladesh has proven to be deeply divisive. The UK protests reflect a larger diaspora sentiment, with many expatriate Bangladeshis expressing disillusionment with the country's current leadership.
What Lies Ahead?
As Muhammad Yunus continues his UK visit amidst high-security arrangements and fierce opposition, the lack of engagement from British leadership sends a clear diplomatic signal. Whether this cold reception will have a lasting impact on Bangladesh-UK relations—or Yunus’s political future—remains to be seen.