Strengthening trade tiesCA set for UK visit from 10-13 June

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to pay a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) from 10-13 June, as the two countries are putting in efforts to refresh their bonds and work ever more closely together on economic, trade and investment fronts.

"This is a very important visit," acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the Chief Adviser is scheduled to leave Dhaka for London on June 9 and will return home on June 14.

The Chief Adviser will meet King Charles and will hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the planned visit in addition to his other engagements.

Asked whether there will be any meeting with BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in London, the acting Foreign Secretary referred to the chief adviser's programmes he mentioned and he does not have any information regarding the meeting with the BNP leader.

"The relationship between Bangladesh and the UK is very deep and diverse," he said, adding that the visit will play an important role in improving the relations.

King Charles III will present the prestigious ‘Harmony Award 2025’ to Prof Yunus.

The recovery of laundered money and assets abroad is likely to be an important issue to be discussed during the visit.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, while briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy recently, said the Chief Adviser will put in his efforts (recovery of stolen money, assets abroad ) as he is going to London.

The government says the previous regime enabled the laundering of an estimated $16 billion annually.

The chief adviser has sought support from the British government through its envoy in Dhaka to track and get back the money laundered to the UK allegedly by the people linked to the Sheikh Hasina-led previous government.