Yunus asks Soros to help recovering stolen assets
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Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday requested the Open Society Foundations to assist Bangladesh in "asset tracing" efforts aimed at recovering approximately $234 billion allegedly siphoned off during Sheikh Hasina's 16-year tenure.
The meeting took place at state guesthouse Jamuna, where a delegation from the Open Society Foundations, led by its chair Alex Soros—son of renowned US philanthropist George Soros—met with Prof Yunus.
During the discussion, Prof Yunus outlined Bangladesh's initiatives to rebuild its economy, trace and recover stolen assets, combat misinformation, and implement essential economic reforms. The delegation, which included Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee, expressed their support for the interim government's reform efforts.
Alex Soros praised Prof Yunus for his leadership during this pivotal period in Bangladesh's history, acknowledging his role in steering necessary institutional reforms and economic recovery. He highlighted that the student-led mass uprising had created significant opportunities to chart a new path for the country.
The dialogue covered a range of critical issues, including the July uprising, transitional justice for victims of the struggle, economic reforms, media freedom, asset recovery, cybersecurity laws, and the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
"We will explore ways to support your efforts in these areas," Alex Soros stated.
Prof Yunus expressed gratitude for the Foundation's backing and urged them to amplify the narrative of the unprecedented student-led uprising, which he believes has toppled a brutal dictatorship. "What I witnessed during my visit to Davos was that not many people know about the July uprising," he remarked. "There is a lot of disinformation."
He emphasised that the interim government had inherited a "devastated and war-torn" economy and sought the Foundation's assistance in the rebuilding process. While acknowledging the newfound freedom enjoyed by Bangladesh's media, Prof Yunus noted that misinformation and disinformation continue to plague social media platforms.
The Open Society Foundations also conveyed their willingness to aid Bangladesh's crucial Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation—a move warmly welcomed by Prof Yunus.
"We have to think about how to do the transition without any problems," he said.