British Prime Minister refuses to meet Yunus

LONDON

In what is being seen as a major diplomatic snub, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly refused to meet Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who is currently visiting the United Kingdom. UK officials confirmed that Starmer has no meeting planned with Yunus, without giving further details.

Yunus, who arrived in London on Tuesday for a four-day visit, met the UK’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell at his hotel on Wednesday. However, rumours about a meeting with the Prime Minister were shut down when Yunus himself admitted to a British newspaper that no such meeting had been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Yunus’ visit has been met with strong protests from the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK. At both Heathrow Airport and his hotel in Central London, hundreds of demonstrators gathered carrying black flags and shouting slogans like “Go back Yunus.” Many protestors accused him of promoting radicalism and demanded the release of jailed Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Witnesses said protestors, many from the Awami League and Bangladeshi citizens who fled the country after Yunus came to power 10 months ago, threw shoes and eggs at his convoy.

A formal letter was also sent to Downing Street, the UK Parliament, the King's Foundation, and the Commonwealth Secretariat by the Awami League's UK wing. The letter urged British leaders not to recognise the Yunus-led government, citing worsening political repression, economic decline, and human rights abuses in Bangladesh.

The situation highlights deep divisions over Yunus’ leadership back home and abroad.