DHAKA: Alex Soros, the chairman of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), a body accused of supporting independent Kashmir, has met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Alex is son of US billionaire George Soros, who is considered a controversial figure in India.
The office of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh announced on Thursday, “The Open Society Foundations leadership on Wednesday 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.”
The meeting between Alex and Yunus comes days after the US administration led by Donald Trump stopped foreign aid to Dhaka.
This is the second meeting between Soros and Yunus after the regime change in Bangladesh following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Alex and Yunus had earlier met on October 2, 2024.
Nobel laureate Yunus, who is also award-winning founder of Grameen Bank, is known for his work in microfinance and social business, also has longstanding financial ties to George Soros.
These relations date back to a 1999 agreement when Yunus secured a $11 million loan from the Soros Economic Development Fund, managed by the Open Society Foundations. The loan enabled Grameen Telecom, a non-profit entity linked to Yunus’ Grameen Bank, to acquire a 35 per cent stake in Grameenphone Ltd, Bangladesh’s largest telecom operator. This loan played a critical role in the development and financial structuring of Grameenphone, allowing it to grow into a major player in Bangladesh’s telecom industry.
The OSF claims to support democracy and human rights in over 100 countries. However, critics view Alex’s father George as a controversial figure. George is considered a controversial man in US as well as in India, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar terming him “old, rich and dangerous”.
Recently, George received the highest civilian award in the US from former President Joe Biden.
The decision generated massive outrage among supporters of new US President Trump.
George has not only been an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but is also accused of supporting “the idea of an independent Kashmir” through the OSF.