Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus met Alex Soros, son of billionaire George Soros and chairperson of Open Society Foundations (OSF), just days after the Trump administration paused all foreign aid to Bangladesh. This marks their second meeting in three months, following an earlier discussion in New York last October.
According to Yunus’ office, the Dhaka meeting focused on Bangladesh’s economic recovery, tracing siphoned-off assets, combating misinformation, and implementing key reforms. OSF president Binaifer Nowrojee was also present. “Open Society Foundations leadership met the Chief Adviser to discuss Bangladesh’s efforts to rebuild the economy, trace siphoned-off assets, combat misinformation, and carry out vital economic reforms,” Yunus’ office stated.
Discussions also covered media freedom, cybersecurity laws, and the Rohingya crisis. Alex Soros reportedly praised the interim government’s efforts, stating that the student-led movement that ousted Sheikh Hasina last August created “great opportunities” for Bangladesh’s future.
Yunus, a Nobel peace prize laureate and known for his work in microfinance, has financial ties to George Soros. In their previous meeting, Alex Soros referred to Yunus as “an old friend of my father” in an Instagram post. OSF has been accused of supporting regime changes in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Some critics link it to Hasina’s fall. Hasina herself accused the US (Biden administration) of involvement, though Washington dismissed such claims as “absolutely false.”
George Soros has also been in the spotlight in India, particularly for alleged links to groups critical of government policies. His name surfaced in the Adani Group controversy, with claims that Soros-funded organizations were behind reports accusing Adani of financial misconduct. Recently, BJP alleged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had connections with Soros-funded groups.
As the Yunus-led government pursues reforms, the US aid suspension adds economic pressure, though OSF’s involvement suggests international support for Bangladesh’s transition.