Meeting between Professor Yunus, Tarique Rahman sends message of peace

King Charles’s Harmony Award is one of the most prestigious honours in the United Kingdom. It is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding contributions by individuals in the fields of environmental conservation, traditional craftsmanship, eco-friendly businesses, and raising awareness about nature. The philosophy behind the award is rooted in King Charles’s belief: “We should work with nature, not against it.” In other words, we must coexist with nature in harmony and protect it. The award is thus based on this vision.

King Charles is deeply committed to these issues. He envisions a world where humans live peacefully with nature, integrating ancient wisdom with modern ideas. This year, the King Charles Harmony Award is being conferred upon Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus. During his visit to the UK, he will be honoured at a royal ceremony on June 12 by King Charles III. The award has been presented by The King’s Foundation, established by King Charles III in 1990. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was the first recipient.

Dr Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to visit London on June 9 to receive the prestigious King Charles Harmony Award. The UK government has declared this a state visit. During the trip, he will have a courtesy meeting with King Charles III and hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. One major topic will be the repatriation of funds laundered from Bangladesh to the UK during the tenure of the fallen Awami League government, as the UK was a major destination for these illicit funds. Dr Yunus will request London’s assistance in this matter.

Additionally, discussions will likely cover the UK’s political support for the interim government's reform initiatives and Bangladesh’s transition to democracy. Key issues may include the investigation of atrocities during the July–August uprisings, institutional reforms, and progress toward future elections. On June 11, Dr Yunus is also scheduled to participate in a dialogue organised by Chatham House, a UK-based think tank. The theme of the discussion is “Challenges and Prospects on Bangladesh’s Path Forward.” The interim government, with Dr Yunus at its helm, was formed on August 8 following a bloody uprising.

Since assuming office, this will be Dr Yunus’s 11th international trip in 10 months. His diplomatic engagements began with the UN General Assembly in September and continued with his most recent, the 10th visit, to Japan in late May. His key meetings during the New York visit included high-profile figures such as then-US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. His second visit was to Baku, Azerbaijan (November 11–22) for the UN Climate Change Conference, during which he held a series of sideline meetings.

His third visit was to Cairo, Egypt (December 18–20) for the D-8 Summit. The fourth was to Davos, Switzerland (January 21–25) to participate in the World Economic Forum. His fifth was to Dubai for the World Government Summit. In March, he made a widely discussed visit to China.

That sixth visit was mainly to Hainan to attend the Boao Forum for Asia, a major multilateral event. He also visited Beijing and held bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials—his first bilateral engagement in China. After China, he visited Thailand for the BIMSTEC Summit, where he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time (April 3–4). On April 21–25, he went to Qatar for the Earthna Summit, then to Vatican City for Pope Francis’s funeral. Most recently, he attended the 30th Nikkei Forum “Future of Asia” in Tokyo (May 28–31), which included a significant bilateral meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister.

Of these 10 trips in 10 months, none were state visits. However, his upcoming visit to Malaysia in mid-July is expected to be declared a state visit. According to a recent Guardian report, close associates of Sheikh Hasina spent large sums acquiring properties in the UK. Dr Yunus is currently in the UK, and the government has stated that retrieving laundered funds from the UK will be a priority. Accompanying him are Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Abdul Momen.

The delegation is working on strategies to recover these funds. A white paper published by Dr Yunus’s interim government revealed that $234 billion was laundered out of Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Economists believe a substantial portion of that money went to the UK. Hence, many see this visit as crucial in recovering laundered funds.

Anti-corruption organisations—Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Spotlight on Corruption, and Transparency International UK—have also called on the UK to return the stolen assets. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman stated that illegal transfers and investments must be proven in court. Spotlight on Corruption’s Executive Director Susan Hawley urged the UK government to take immediate steps to seize these assets and strengthen enforcement for recovery. The statement noted that investigations by The Observer and Transparency International UK found properties in the UK worth at least £400 million linked to Sheikh Hasina’s associates.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has already seized £90 million worth of assets. Duncan Hames, Policy Director of Transparency International UK, said that the UK must properly investigate and seize these assets acquired through corruption and theft by Sheikh Hasina’s associates.

This interim government assumed responsibility at a critical moment. Though not politically seasoned, its members are highly accomplished in their respective fields. While they may lack complete political wisdom, they seem sincere in their intentions. Different perspectives may exist, but there is a unique pressure here—an emerging wave of political thought.

New ideas are being tested, and navigating these challenges to reach solutions is no small task. However, an opportunity for resolution may arise from the dialogue between the two leaders—Dr Yunus and Tarique Rahman. It’s unrealistic to expect all of Bangladesh’s problems to be solved overnight. Fifteen years of fascist rule under the Awami League has dismantled state institutions, and rebuilding them is no easy feat. It’s a tremendous challenge. Political analysts view the meeting between Professor Yunus and Tarique Rahman as a milestone.

Raihan Ahmed Topadar: A researcher and columnist