As millions of Bangladeshis grapple with soaring prices, job insecurity and a mounting economic crisis, interim government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus finds himself at the centre of a storm over an extraordinarily extravagant four-day visit to the United Kingdom—an affair that cost taxpayers an estimated BDT 6 crore, according to leaked official documents.
The revelations come at a time of deepening public discontent, with many questioning the moral and political legitimacy of such unchecked expenditure by an unelected administration.
Luxury on the public dime
Documents obtained from the Bangladesh High Commission in London show that approximately £210,325 (BDT 3.48 crore) was spent on hospitality alone—largely at The Dorchester, one of London’s most prestigious and prohibitively expensive hotels.
Yunus reportedly stayed in the Dorchester Prestige Suite, costing a staggering £6,045 per night—adding up to £24,180 (BDT 40 lakh) over the four-day period. His daughter, Deena Afroz Yunus, occupied the second-most expensive suite—the Dorchester Suite—for £20,000 (BDT 33 lakh).
In total, 37 rooms were booked for the delegation, including four Superior King Rooms at £19,800 (BDT 32.7 lakh), bringing the “bedroom expenditure” alone to £198,135 (BDT 3.27 crore).
The delegation also hosted an event at the hotel’s Park Suite on June 12, paying £2,000 (BDT 3.3 lakh) in venue charges. Dinner for the team, spanning four days, reportedly cost £6,500 (BDT 10.75 lakh).
Airfare, lies, and no official talks
Despite the enormous cost, the visit yielded no official diplomatic engagement with the UK government, including no meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, contrary to what Yunus’s press office had initially claimed. Sources now confirm that the British PM’s office never scheduled any such meeting.This has led to serious accusations that Yunus and his team falsely presented the trip as an official state mission, thereby justifying its funding through public coffers.
The real agenda: A private political rendezvous
The trip’s real purpose, insiders allege, had little to do with diplomacy. Instead, the visit appears to have been orchestrated around Yunus’s receipt of the Harmony Award and a closed-door meeting with exiled BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on June 13 in London.
This meeting, now confirmed by multiple intelligence sources, is widely interpreted as a politically charged move, raising serious concerns over collusion between the interim administration and opposition elements.
Public fury amid worsening economy
The scandal has sparked intense backlash across Bangladesh, where citizens are struggling to cope with an unrelenting economic crisis. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the country’s per capita income for 2024–25 is just $2,820, and inflation remains high.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh was ranked 151 out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, reflecting continued concerns about lack of accountability in public governance.
“This is an insult to the people of Bangladesh,” said one political commentator. “While millions can’t afford essentials, the unelected head of an interim regime is indulging in royal luxuries abroad—and with our money.”
Mounting pressure and demands for accountability
With evidence stacking against Yunus and his inner circle, calls for an independent audit and legal action are growing louder. Civil society activists, opposition leaders, and even some members of the interim administration are urging the High Court to intervene and investigate the misuse of public funds.
“This is not just about money—it’s about integrity, transparency, and respect for the people,” said an anti-corruption activist in Dhaka. “If this is how the interim government operates, what hope does the nation have?”
As Bangladesh’s economic woes continue, the Yunus UK trip may well become a defining symbol of elite impunity, political deception, and misplaced priorities during one of the most fragile periods in the country’s democratic journey.
