Why didn’t UK PM Starmer meet Yunus if it was an ‘official’ trip?

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has faced pointed questions after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not meet him during his four-day “official” trip to London.

Just before receiving the King Charles III Harmony Award on Jun 12, the interim prime minister was interviewed by BBC journalist Rajini Vaidyanathan.

She asked how disappointed he was that the British prime minister had not made time for a meeting.

Yunus said Starmer was likely busy but added that it opened an opportunity to invite him to Bangladesh.

During the short interview, the discussion naturally turned to British MP Tulip Siddiq, niece of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Yunus was asked if he would meet her and respond to the allegations she has made about the Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation.

Yunus also responded to questions about the potential impact of planned UK aid cuts to Bangladesh.

Audio of the interview aired on BBC’s The World Tonight programme.

A full transcript is now available to bdnews24.com readers.

BBC Presenter: This trip has been described as “official”. There’s no meeting on the cards with the prime minister. Muhammad Yunus spoke to The World Tonight’s Rajini Vaidyanathan just before he went to Buckingham Palace. She asked him: why was there no meeting with Keir Starmer?

Yunus: We were very eager to meet him. Somehow, probably he’s busy or whatever, but that gives me a great opportunity too because now that he’s busy, I’m inviting him to come to Bangladesh. We’ll have plenty of time together and show around what happened, and what we’re looking for, and he can grasp the situation. It is a historical moment that we are going through. It is a unique thing in a way. We are discarding the past and beginning a new future.

Rajini: You say he’s busy. You’re the chief advisor, so you’re his political equivalent. There are close to a million Bangladeshis here in the UK. Bangladeshi culture is such an intrinsic part of British life. How disappointed are you that during your couple of days here in the UK, he couldn’t find time for you?

Yunus: I don’t know whether I should be disappointed or he should be disappointed. It’s a missed opportunity for any reason. I don’t know. That’s why I’m saying coming to Bangladesh should be a good opportunity. Relax and see and kind of feel the moment in Bangladesh and grasp it.

Rajini: What reason did Downing Street give you for not arranging a meeting?

Yunus: I don’t think we have received an explanation for that kind of thing. Probably he’s busy with other important things.

Rajini: Let’s talk about one of Keir Starmer’s MPs, the Labour MP Tulip Siddiq. She’s the niece of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A Bangladeshi court has issued an arrest warrant for her, accusing her of illegally receiving land. Now, that’s something that she denies. She’s written to you. We’ve seen the letter. She’s asked to meet you while you are here. Will you meet her?

Yunus: No, I’m not because it’s a legal procedure. I don’t want to interrupt the legal procedure. Let the procedure continue.

Rajini: The UK government’s advisor on ministerial standards carried out an investigation into Tulip Siddiq. She was cleared. She says that your Anti-Corruption Commission hasn’t produced any evidence against her. Why is the ACC therefore still investigating her?

Yunus: In a court matter, the court will decide that enough materials are available to pursue the case or cancel.

Rajini: But you are the chief advisor in Bangladesh. You came in saying that you wanted to stamp out corruption. So I just repeat that question, really, because the head of the ACC says this isn’t an unsubstantiated investigation. He said the allegations are by no means targeted and baseless. And yet, Siddiq’s legal team says that they haven’t seen any evidence. In fact, they say she hasn’t even spoken to them, the ACC.

Yunus: The legal procedure needs the lawyers to get together, exchange information with each other.

Rajini: But she’s saying that hasn’t happened.

Yunus: So it’s not too late yet. I mean, it’s a procedure that always takes time. Bangladesh has never denied providing any information."

Rajini: But there’s already been a warrant for her arrest on this particular charge. And yet, she [Tulip] and her lawyers say quite clearly that it’s extraordinary and wholly inconsistent with due process and a fair procedure to lay charges before the Bangladeshi court and obtain an arrest warrant. They say no contact has been made with them.

Yunus: Yeah, it’s a lawyer versus lawyer. The lawyer from the Anti-Corruption Commission from Bangladesh, I’m sure they will have a convincing answer to that question.

Rajini: Sure. Simply put, Tulip is saying that her lawyers have not heard from the ACC, and she is saying that therefore, there is no due process.

Yunus: Then the lawyer from the Anti-Corruption Commission will explain how this is a very legal procedure.

Rajini: I get that. But I guess as chief Advisor, are you now urging your Anti-Corruption Commission to be more transparent? Would you say this now on record that they need to provide the information as soon as possible, so that there’s no doubt about these charges, which of course she denies.

Yunus: As chief advisor, I have full confidence in our Anti-Corruption Commission that they’re doing the right thing.

Rajini: There is, of course, an arrest warrant for Tulip Siddiq. If there is a body of evidence that is produced before her, would there be a situation where you would seek her extradition?

Yunus: Again, it’s a legal procedure. That’s something which one step takes to the next step.

Rajini: Would that be part of the procedure?

Yunus: If it is part of the legal procedure.

Rajini: So it’s a possibility if there is enough evidence, the ACC could seek her extradition?

Yunus: If the law requires that.

Rajini: Bangladesh has been one of the top 10 recipients of UK aid. We’ve heard in recent weeks, and even yesterday in the spending review, that the foreign aid budget is going to be dramatically cut. How is that going to affect the people of Bangladesh?

Yunus: First of all, we’ll be very happy to get some help during our crisis period that we are going through right now. But if it’s not available, we still will continue to make our own efforts and do things, increasing our own income.

Rajini: How much of a blow is it, professor?

Yunus: It’s a big blow. The British one. This is part of life that goes on, ups and downs, today reduced, tomorrow that will increase, depending on the situation. But we have to deal with the situation, right?

Suddenly, we hear that USAID stopped all the money completely -- 100 percent. And we look around -- what happened? Major, major things have happened in Bangladesh. Especially the Rohingya issue -- all the funding was cut off. Zero.

The whole Rohingya situation suddenly became a big blow for us. It was a shocking development. But we have to deal with it. The Rohingyas won’t just disappear because the money has.

Presenter: Muhammad Yunus speaking there to my colleague Rajini Vaidyanathan. We did contact Tulip Siddiq MP to ask her on to the programme. She declined but sent us this statement:

“I’m disappointed that Professor Yunus refused to meet me during his visit. He’s been at the heart of a political vendetta based on fantasy accusations with no evidence, relentlessly briefed to the media.

“I hope he’s now serious about ending the practice of smearing me in the press and allowing the courts to establish that their investigations have nothing to do with me.”