A significant protest erupted outside a hotel in New York City on Tuesday as a large group of Bangladeshi nationals expressed their discontent with Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. The demonstration coincided with Yunus’s attendance at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, with protesters demanding his resignation and condemning his leadership amidst allegations of attacks on minority groups in Bangladesh.
Videos shared on social media captured the passionate crowd chanting slogans such as “go back” and “step down,” while holding posters that read, “Sheikh Hasina our Prime Minister.” According to protest organizers, Yunus ascended to power through “dirty politics” and has failed to protect the rights of minorities since taking control on August 8, following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country amid widespread protests against her government.
One protester expressed deep frustration, stating, “Muhammad Yunus took power unconstitutionally, illegally. He captured power with dirty politics, and a lot of people have been killed. Our elected PM, Sheikh Hasina, has not resigned. We humbly request the UN to acknowledge that he does not represent the Bangladeshi people here.” Another protester echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Yunus’s lack of electoral legitimacy and his disregard for minority rights.
Yunus’s rise to power came amid a political crisis that has claimed over 200 lives due to violence related to protests against a controversial job quota system. Following Hasina’s resignation, reports of vandalism and attacks on minority temples emerged, raising concerns about safety and security for vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
While in New York, Yunus attended a high-level meeting focused on the urgent need for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. He emphasized the significant social, economic, and environmental challenges posed by hosting over 1.2 million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar. “Bangladesh has reached its limits. The repatriation of the Rohingyas remains the only sustainable solution to this protracted crisis,” he stated.
Yunus also met with U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit, where both leaders reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, rooted in shared democratic values. Biden expressed support for Bangladesh as it implements its new reform agenda.
Sources By Agencies
