Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday conveyed to UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West that the reform initiatives 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. During the meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, Prof Yunus described his government's reform initiatives to fix the country's key institutions and the election commission. Minister 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." Dhaka seeks stronger cooperation with London for tracing, return of "stolen" wealth She said her government would extend “full support” to Bangladesh, including in its efforts to bring back billions of dollars of laundered money, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing. "It is important to let you know that you've got our support," Catherine West said. The British minister said the United Kingdom would also extend its support to Dhaka's efforts to bring back tens of billions of dollars siphoned off abroad during Sheikh Hasina's nearly 16-year-long rule. Yunus thanked her, saying that returning 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 that annually more than 12 billion dollars were siphoned off abroad. UK expects Prof Yunus to lay out his vision: Catherine West 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. Prof 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. Yunus said his government has fully backed the creation of a South Asia electricity grid to bring power from hydroelectricity-rich Nepal and Bhutan. Rohingya Crisis: "No light at the end of the tunnel yet" 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.

National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, has said the US would let the Indian government speak for its bilateral relations with Bangladesh.  “I think we’d let the Indian Government speak for its bilateral relations with Bangladesh… We have already made clear our desire to free and fair elections in Bangladesh,” Kirby said while responding to a question at a briefing on the upcoming state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Diplomatic sources say regional and the global situation will come up for discussion during the Indian Prime Minister’s meeting with US President Joe Biden. Read: Biden hosting Modi as US sees India as a pivotal force in Asia for decades to come At the media briefing, Kirby said it is “commonplace and consistent” for President Biden to raise concerns over human rights wherever he goes and whatever leaders he is speaking to. “Human rights are a foundational element of this administration’s foreign policy, and you can certainly expect that the President will – as he always does and as you can do with friends and partners like Prime Minister Modi in India – raise our concerns about that,” he said. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an official state visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner on June 22, according to the White House. Read: Success in achieving ‘Sonar Bangla’ and ‘Global Britain’ depend on how Bangladesh and UK choose to cooperate: Shahriar Alam The visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together, said the US government. The visit will strengthen the two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and shared resolve to elevate strategic technology partnership, including in defence, clean energy, and space, White House said. Read: Momen urges US to import more medicines from Bangladesh The leaders will discuss ways to further expand educational exchanges and people-to-people ties between India and the US, as well as their work together to confront common challenges from climate change, to workforce development and health security.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said free and fair elections are held only during Awami League’s tenures. “Only during AL governments, you can see free and fair elections,” she told BBC journalist Laura Kuenssberg in an interview aired on Sunday. Sheikh Hasina, now in London, said there was no democracy or democratic rights in Bangladesh after the assassination of her father along with 18 family members in 1975. She said military dictators ruled the country for a long time directly or indirectly and overtly or covertly after the assassination. The military rulers formed political parties and they never reached out to people and asked for votes. “They used the army, administration and everything just to remain in power,” the premier told BBC. Read: “It seems a guardian is gone”: PM pays last respect to Queen Elizabeth II Responding to a question regarding the British high commissioner’s call to her government to conduct a free and fair election in Bangladesh, she said that she strives to ensure a democratic system and free, fair elections. Asked about the allegations of enforced disappearance, Sheikh Hasina said anyone can make allegations but it needs to be assessed whether the claims are true. “How many people disappeared in your country and other countries?  …you can’t judge. In these issues, I think all information needs to be collected first and then they can accuse,” she said. Asked about her personal memories with the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Bangladesh PM said she met and talked to the late queen at every Commonwealth summit and other events she attended after becoming Prime Minister.   The queen always remembered her, PM said. Whenever the late queen didn’t see her at programmes, she would enquire about her, Sheikh Hasina said. Read: Buckingham Palace calling: King Charles thanks PM Hasina, wishes Bangladeshis well Hasina said when she was young, she first saw the queen in 1961 during her visit to the erstwhile East Pakistan, using binoculars through the window of her father’s office. “When she visited the then Pakistan, that means East Pakistan in 1961, I had the opportunity to see her. We were very young. We went to my father’s office because we knew that she (Queen Elizabeth) would be passing through that (nearby) road. We, all of us — the whole family — were waiting at the window with binoculars so that we could see her more,” she said. “When I became Prime Minister, I met her at every programme. I attended about seven Commonwealth summits. So, every time I had the opportunity to talk to her and meet her,” she said. The PM said, Elizabeth II was the queen of the United Kingdom, but she was also leader of the Commonwealth. “So, as a member of Commonwealth, she has a great value to us,” she said. “We love the Queen. She was so affectionate. I am lucky that she always remembered my name. I have come here to pay my respect to her,” said Hasina.