NEW YORK – A group of Bangladeshis living abroad who say they support former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina protested outside the United Nations offices in New York on Friday. The protest was against Muhammad Yunus, the main adviser to the Bangladeshi government. He was in the city to speak at the UN General Assembly.
Protesters waved signs that said things like “Stop killing minorities in Bangladesh” and “Say no to Islamist terrorism in Bangladesh.” They also screamed shouts like “Yunus is Pakistani.” “Go back to Pakistan.”
Claims of Horrible Acts Against Minorities
A protester told the news agency media that since Hasina was ousted on August 5, 2024, minorities in Bangladesh, including as Hindus and other religious groups, have been attacked and persecuted.
Rise in Violence: “After the 5th of August 2024, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to leave the country for security reasons, and Yunus took over. Since then, Hindus and people from other religions have been killed,” the protestor said.
Forced Displacement: The protester also said that many people, mainly Hindus, have had to leave Bangladesh because of the current situation.
Call for Elections: The protesters wanted Yunus to resign and hold elections. One protester said that he is trying to turn Bangladesh into a “Taliban” and “a terrorist country.”
The protesters also wanted Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former priest of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), to be freed. He was detained in Bangladesh last year on allegations of sedition. So far, the Bangladeshi court has turned all his requests for bail.
Yunus, who took over after a youth-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year leadership, gave his second speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.