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In response to the Bangladesh government’s concerns over bringing back billions of dollars laundered abroad during the past regime, visiting UK undersecretary for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said her government would extend full support to Bangladesh’s efforts to bring back the stolen money.
Ms West made this commitment when she called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhamnad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Sunday.
Earlier, she met foreign adviser Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry.
"It is important to let you know that you've got our support," Catherine West told the CA.
Dr Yunus thanked her, saying that bringing back money laundered by corrupt politicians, oligarchs, and bureaucrats is a top priority of the interim government.
He quoted a recent Transparency International Bangladesh report, saying annually more than 12 billion dollars were siphoned off abroad.
During the meeting, Dr Yunus described his government's reform initiatives to fix the country's key institutions and the election commission.
He said the reforms are aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the country and to break away from the rampant vote rigging practiced by the previous regime.
Ms West backed the reforms, saying Britain would like to see vibrant debates on the key aspects of electoral, judiciary, and constitutional reforms.
"Debates are very important," she said.
The minister announced £10.3 million of UK grant support to provide essential services and assistance to the Rohingya refugees, the host communities, and those affected by natural disasters in Bangladesh.
Dr Yunus reiterated his call for a "UN-overseen safe zone" for communities in Myanmar's violence-plagued Rakhine so that they don't have to flee across the border to Bangladesh and charities and aid groups can take food and assistance at the doorsteps of the displaced people.
During the meeting, they also discussed geopolitical issues, minority rights, ties with South Asian neighbours, and Bangladesh's recent 40 megawatt energy deal with Nepal.
Dr Yunus said his government has fully backed the creation of a South Asia electricity grid to bring power from hydroelectricity-rich Nepal and Bhutan.
He said Bangladesh can ease off its reliance on fossil fuels if it can import renewable energy from the two Himalayan countries. He said Bangladesh needs collaboration with India to this effect.
During the meeting, Sarah Cook, the British High Commissioner to Dhaka, said a UK medical team arrived in the country this month to treat students and other demonstrators who were critically injured during the July-August mass uprising.
"They are conducting three surgeries a day," she said.
Meanwhile, in his meeting with Ms West, the foreign adviser raised concerns over the illicit flow of Bangladesh’s stolen wealth abroad, urging greater efforts to address the issue of asset recovery.
He called for stronger cooperation with the UK to trace and return these assets to Bangladesh, a matter that remains high on the government’s agenda.
Ms West assured the foreign adviser of all possible cooperation in this regard.
The meeting featured discussion on major bilateral issues, ranging from the priorities of the British and Bangladesh governments.
With regard to the point-based immigration system, the foreign adviser called for the arrangement of mutual recognition of qualifications.
Foreign Adviser Hossain thanked the UK government for its continued support to Bangladesh’s interim government, acknowledging the UK’s role in ensuring political stability and democratic progress.
He emphasised that the interim government of Bangladesh is a reflection of the aspirations of the people, particularly the nation’s youth, and sought support from the UK for the reform initiatives of the Bangladesh government.
Mr Hossain sought the international community’s support for the Rohingyas and said the only solution to this crisis lies in the safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.
Ms West reiterated the UK’s strong position to resolve the Rohingya crisis and stressed the importance of continued humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas.
The British undersecretary reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh and underscored the UK government’s priorities in different areas, including migration, maritime cooperation and cyber security.
Both sides committed to carrying forward the robust cooperation and further strengthening the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
The British undersecretary Catherine West is in Dhaka for a two-day official visit.
Later, while talking to the reporters at the foreign ministry, the British minister stressed the political reconciliation.
Asked whether this reconciliation included the previous regime, she said, “Off course, and we expect Professor Yunus ‘to lay out his vision for how all that will unfold".
She said the UK will support the government for moving forward in the next phase.
“We want to support the government because it is in this period of transition. We want to support the interim government in the work that it's doing”, she added.
“We know that the interim government in Bangladesh has committed to restoring peace and order, ensuring accountability, and promoting national reconciliation, and it has the full support of the UK Government in these objectives”.
There are very strong people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the UK, she said, adding that during his meeting with the Foreign Affairs Advisor, she welcomed the interim government's determination to build a better democratic future for the people of Bangladesh.
“And as we have a very strong, steadfast friendship with the people of Bangladesh, we want to build the strong partnerships and build on that important building block of strong ties, and also with moving towards that democratic future, from economics and trade to security, migration, and climate change, there's so much that we do together that we must continue to work on”, the British undersecretary added.
Ms West conveyed warm greetings from British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.