Yunus' London visit very successful: Acting foreign secy

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (17 June) described Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus' recent visit to the United Kingdom as "very successful" but noted that for some reasons, meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could not be held at the last moment.

"In our consideration, the visit was very successful," acting foreign secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique told a media briefing at the ministry.

Secretary (East) Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Director General (Public Diplomacy) Shah Asif Rahman were also present.

Responding to a query, he said the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, during a breakfast meeting with him before the visit, conveyed that the visit was upgraded to an official visit.

Later, she met the Chief Adviser and conveyed the same message to the Bangladesh side.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Abida Islam was also conveyed by the UK side that it is an official visit.

In an official visit, the acting Foreign Secretary said they think certain things will take place, including a meeting at the Prime Minister-level between the two countries.

He said the meeting was on agenda until the Chief Adviser reached London but the specific time was not marked. "We had an expectation even at the last moment that the meeting would take place. At the last moment, for any reason, the meeting did not take place," Siddique said.

Except for the meeting with the Prime Minister, he said, the Chief Adviser had more meetings than planned and he was provided with full protocol.

The foreign secretary, however, said some responsibilities come onto their shoulders as they (MoFA) were part of the preparation of the visit.

Explaining why the visit is seen as very successful, he mentioned tangible progress achieved in terms of stolen asset recovery, receiving the King Charles III Harmony Award by the chief adviser and one-on-meeting with the King.

Siddique said he does not see any logical ground for making things complicated on historic and friendly relations between the two countries after a successful visit for a single issue," said the foreign secretary.

On Thursday, the chief adviser received the King Charles III Harmony Award at the St James Palace in London.

The award recognises Prof Yunus' "unique contribution to ensuring harmonious coexistence between people, nature and the environment, bringing about positive changes in the lives of the marginalised communities and building a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world".

Ahead of the award ceremony, King Charles welcomed the chief adviser for a private audience at Buckingham Palace.

They discussed issues of mutual interests during the half-hour-long one-on-one meeting.

During his visit to the UK, Yunus told BBC that he had not been able to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

"I don't know whether I should be disappointed or he should be disappointed. It's a missed opportunity. "That's why I'm saying coming to Bangladesh would be a good opportunity to relax and see and feel the moment," the Chief Adviser told BBC in an interview.

When asked if Downing Street had given a reason for not scheduling a meeting with Starmer, he said, "I don't think we have received an explanation from that kind of thing. Probably he is busy with other important things."