Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s recent trip to the United Kingdom has drawn sharp public criticism after a leaked hotel invoice revealed his delegation spent over £210,000 (approximately Tk 3.5 crore) on a four-night stay at The Dorchester, one of London’s most luxurious hotels.
The invoice, posted on Facebook by Al Jazeera’s investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer, shows that 37 rooms were booked from June 9 to 13 for Yunus and his 39-member team. The most expensive room—the Dorchester Prestige Suite—costs £6,045 (Tk 10 lakh) per night, totalling £24,180 (Tk 40 lakh) for the Chief Adviser’s accommodation.
“Of course, a head of government may stay in a top hotel abroad for protocol. But what exactly did Bangladesh gain from this?” Saer wrote, questioning the justification for the extravagant expense.
Yunus travelled to London to receive the King Charles III Harmony Award and held a private meeting with BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. However, the trip involved no official bilateral meetings, no international agreements, and no tangible diplomatic engagements, according to both public records and Saer’s assessment.
“He did not come for any bilateral meetings. That much is certain. He only accepted a personal award from the British monarch and met BNP’s top leader,” Saer stated.
Adding to the controversy, the delegation reportedly chose Emirates Airlines over Biman Bangladesh Airlines, despite Biman operating direct Dhaka–London flights. Emirates’ first and business class fares are notably higher, prompting questions about the government’s commitment to cost-saving and national branding.
“It is expected that a country’s head of government would travel with the national flag carrier,” Saer added, pointing to protocol norms.
The Dorchester invoice shows a bedroom expenditure of £210,325 (Tk 3.5 crore) and an event cost of over £12,190 (Tk 20 lakh), including food, beverages, and venue hire. Room types ranged from Superior King at £825 (Tk 1.37 lakh) per night to various executive and junior suites costing over £2,000–£5,000 (Tk 3.3–8.3 lakh) per night.
The absence of any disclosed outcome, whether diplomatic, economic, or strategic, has sparked public concern, particularly as Yunus leads a transitional government that has repeatedly pledged transparency, reform, and responsible governance.
