‘You, Terrorist, Why Did You Come Here?’: Bangladeshi Expats Confront Muhammad Yunus at New York Airport
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Bangladesh’s former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus faced angry protests from Bangladeshi expatriates at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport on Monday, with demonstrators accusing him of undermining democracy and being responsible for deaths during his tenure.
Yunus arrived at the airport on October 12 aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. A video circulating on social media showed a group of people confronting him after he reached Terminal 8, the Dhaka-based Daily Sun reported.
What Did the Protesters Say?
“You, terrorist, why did you come here? You have destroyed the democracy in my country!” a man was heard shouting at Yunus in the footage.
The video shows protesters hurling accusations at the former chief adviser as he was being taken out of the airport in a wheelchair. Some called him a “terrorist”, accused him of killing Bangladeshis and police personnel, and shouted, “Go back”.
Security personnel subsequently escorted Yunus away from the scene. According to the report, Yunus and Lamia Morshed, who was accompanying him, briefly moved back inside the airport amid the confrontation.
The identities of those involved and further details surrounding the incident could not be immediately confirmed.
The protesters also alleged that around two lakh people had been arrested in Bangladesh and blamed Yunus for the deaths of thousands of police personnel. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Yunus Faced Criticism Over Law And Order
Yunus led Bangladesh’s interim administration after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising in August 2024.
His administration faced criticism from political opponents over its handling of violence and unrest following Hasina’s departure. The latest confrontation at New York airport reflects the anger among some Bangladeshi expatriates over developments in their home country during the interim administration.
