George Soros son Alex meets Muhammad Yunus, pledges support for Bangladesh government’s reform agenda
Alex Soros, son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros and chairperson of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), met with Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Interim Adviser of Bangladesh, on January 29, 2025. This meeting comes shortly after the Trump administration suspended foreign aid to Bangladesh, a decision that has raised concerns about the country’s economic stability.
During their discussions in Dhaka, Soros pledged support for the interim government’s reform agenda, which includes efforts to rebuild the economy, trace siphoned-off assets, combat misinformation, and implement vital economic reforms. Yunus expressed gratitude for OSF’s backing and highlighted the critical nature of these reforms in light of recent political changes in Bangladesh following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Key Discussion Topics:
Economic Reforms: Strategies to revitalize Bangladesh’s economy.
Asset Recovery: Initiatives to recover approximately $234 billion allegedly misappropriated during Hasina’s tenure.
Media Freedom: Ensuring a free press amidst political transitions.
Cybersecurity Laws: Addressing new challenges in digital security.
Rohingya Crisis: Ongoing humanitarian issues related to Rohingya refugees.
Soros emphasized the potential for significant opportunities arising from the recent student-led protests that contributed to regime change in Bangladesh. He referred to Yunus as “a champion of human rights” and expressed a commitment to explore ways to deepen cooperation on key reforms and investments.
This meeting marks their second encounter since Yunus took office in October 2024, following a prior meeting in New York. The OSF has been involved in various global initiatives aimed at promoting democracy and human rights, though it has faced criticism for its perceived influence in political transitions worldwide.
