Referring to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, advisor Asif Mahmud remarked, “When it comes to returning money, no one can be found—there’s no difference between close friends and government leaders.”

The statement comes amid controversy surrounding Starmer’s refusal to meet with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is currently visiting the United Kingdom. The chief advisor is in London to rally support for efforts to recover several billion dollars allegedly laundered during the tenure of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The UK has reportedly become a major safe haven for illicit Bangladeshi funds, with links allegedly tracing back to members of the ruling party, including British MP Tulip Siddiq. Speculation suggests that due to legal and ethical obligations surrounding these financial matters and Tulip Siddiq’s involvement, Prime Minister Starmer has chosen to avoid direct engagement with Dr. Yunus.