Former Bangladesh adviser Yunus called terrorist:Surrounded at New York airport; govt says action will be taken against protesters

Bangladesh’s former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus faced protests at New York airport in the United States, where a group of people surrounded him, called him a “terrorist” and accused him of ordering killings and undermining democracy in Bangladesh. The protesters questioned Yunus about his visit and told him to return to Bangladesh. A video of the incident is circulating on social media, showing people chanting slogans against him and confronting him with accusations. Amid the confrontation, Yunus and his associate Lamia Morshed were taken back inside the airport. Protesters accuse Yunus of responsibility for deaths The demonstrators accused Yunus of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of police personnel. They also claimed that around 2 lakh people had been arrested in Bangladesh. The identities of the protesters have not been officially confirmed. A Bangladeshi media organisation identified the demonstrators as supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party. Yunus and his representatives did not immediately respond to the incident. Bangladesh adviser says legal action will be taken Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Information and Communications Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday that legal action would be taken against those who confronted Yunus. However, he did not specify the legal provisions under which action would be initiated. Yunus led Bangladesh’s interim government after Hasina’s government fell in August 2024. His tenure was marked by concerns over political violence, law and order and the treatment of minorities. Yunus’s tenure faced scrutiny over violence Yunus’s interim government faced criticism over its handling of violence and its efforts to maintain law and order. Concerns were also raised over attacks on Hindu minorities and their religious sites, as well as arrests and deaths in custody. The Awami League alleged that its leaders and supporters were being targeted during this period. Human rights organisations also called for accountability in cases involving violence and alleged mistreatment. Responsibility for individual incidents and the allegations made by protesters would need to be established through investigations and official findings.