Dr Yunus banking big on Britain visit

Priyajit Debsarkar, London:::

Professor Dr Muhamad Yunus, popularly also nicknamed the “Banker to the Poor” is on a marathon run to visit Foreign leaders at a record pace since he has taken over as the chief advisor of Bangladesh. He had so far visited USA (23rd to 28th September, 24), Azerbaijan (11th to 14th Nov 24), Egypt (18th – 20th Dec 24), Switzerland (21st to 25th Feb 25), UAE (13 to 14th Feb 25), China (26 to 30th March 25), Thailand (3rd to 4th April 25), Qatar (21st to 25th April 25), Vatican City (26th to 27th April 5), Japan (28th May to 1st June 25) and upcoming UK from 10th to 13th June 25. It looks like a phenomenal and punishing Itennary for the eighty five year old Noble laureate. Such diplomatic exchanges are good to boost the image of Bangladesh overseas however, when the country is reeling under the burden of dwindling foreign currency revenue reserves and an advances treat from geo political global situations the benefits may not out way the risks.

It is also interesting that during this visit there is a possibly for the first time to have a direct clarification of the corruption charges against MP Tulip Siddiq who is also the niece of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Ms Siddiq in a letter, which has been quoted by The Guardian, hopes “to clear up the misunderstanding perpetuated by the anti-corruption committee in Dhaka that I have questions to answer in relation to my mother’s sister, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.” nevertheless, it seems unlikely that such a meeting may take place as Dr Yunus is under immense pressure domestically to hold early free and fair inclusive elections. Already a political storm has kicked up in Bangladesh where all the major opposition political parties has given an ultimatum to hold the elections by end of the year. Professor Yunus had earlier announce a date towards the mid of 2026. Since then he as now offered to move the date to beginning of April 2026 another sign that the administration is losing a grip of the situation. The Bangladesh Armed Forces has also endorsed an early election by the end of the year. With the Awami League, banned form the upcoming elections even the date of April 2026 may not hold given the holy month of Ramadan falls on March 2026 as well.

Dr Yunus is also not likely to have any engagement with the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party top leadership during his trip to London, as they seem committed for the elections by December. The interim administration is facing credible and profound accusations of marginalization of minority rights, state sponsored violence, illegal detention including members of the press, thus getting any form international acknowledgment is a lucrative respite. The visit to Britain comes with a backdrop of the failed cancelled bi-lateral meet with the French President Macron riding on the back of the Third Ocean Conference in Nice 9th June. The French hosts were reluctant to have specific meeting and have given a clear signal of their foreign political direction in SE Asia. Dr Yunus needs to get his books in order and it seems he in a hurry as the ground seems shifting suddenly.