The UK government will provide its full support to Bangladesh’s caretaker government, including its efforts to recover billions of dollars in laundered money, the UK’s minister for the Indo-Pacific said today (17 November). Catherine West.

She gave this assurance when she visited Principal Advisor (CA) Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, according to the media wing of the CA.

“It is important to let you know that you have our support,” West told Yunus, who took over as head of government three days after a massive uprising toppled the Awami League government on August 5.

Yunus thanked her, saying that returning money laundered by corrupt politicians, oligarchs and bureaucrats was a top priority of the interim government.

He cited a recent report by Transparency International Bangladesh, which said that every year, more than $12 billion was embezzled abroad.

During the meeting, Yunus outlined his government’s reform initiatives aimed at repairing the country’s key institutions and the electoral commission.

The senior advisor said the reforms are aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the country and breaking away from widespread electoral fraud practiced by the previous regime.

West supported the reforms, saying Britain would like to see vibrant debates on key aspects of electoral, judicial and constitutional reforms.

The minister announced a UK grant of £10.3 million to provide essential services and assistance to Rohingya refugees, host communities and people affected by natural disasters in Bangladesh.

Yunus reiterated his call for a “UN-supervised safe zone” for communities in Myanmar’s violence-plagued Rakhine region so they do not have to flee across the border. border to Bangladesh and that charities and humanitarian groups can bring food and aid to the country’s gates. displaced people.

During the meeting, they also discussed geopolitical issues, minority rights, ties with South Asian neighbors and the recent 40 megawatt energy deal between Bangladesh and Nepal.

Yunus said his government fully supports the creation of a South Asian power grid to carry electricity from hydropower-rich Nepal and Bhutan.

He said Bangladesh could reduce its dependence on fossil fuels if it could import renewable energy from the two Himalayan countries. He added that Bangladesh needed collaboration with India for this purpose.

During the meeting, Sarah Cook, the British high commissioner in Dhaka, said a British medical team had arrived in the country this month to treat students and other protesters seriously injured during the massive July uprising. august.

“They do three surgeries a day,” she said.