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Bangladesh’s interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus came under fire in New York on Friday as he addressed delegates on the fourth day of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Outside the UN headquarters, protesters loyal to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gathered with placards and chants of “Yunus is Pakistani, go back to Pakistan,” accusing the Nobel laureate of bias and failed governance.
The demonstrations highlighted the political divide that has gripped Bangladesh since last year’s Gen Z-led uprising, which ended Hasina’s 15-year rule and paved the way for Yunus to take charge of an interim administration. This was Yunus’s second speech at the UN since the dramatic change of power.
Critics of Yunus have accused his government of failing to protect minorities, particularly Hindus, and have linked recent attacks to radical groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami. His comments blaming India for sheltering Hasina have further complicated relations with New Delhi, which has already voiced concern over minority safety in Bangladesh.
Addressing the assembly, Yunus reflected on the political turmoil and the aspirations that followed. “Last year, in this august assembly, I spoke to you from a country that had just witnessed a popular uprising. I shared with you our aspirations for transformation. Today, I stand here to tell you how far we have come on that journey,” he said.
He underlined Bangladesh’s global significance, noting: “Out of every 100 people on this planet, nearly three live in Bangladesh. Our story matters because it is a reminder of the extraordinary power of ordinary people. It matters because it inspires hope among nations everywhere, that no matter how deep the crisis, no matter how impossible the solution may seem, the path to renewal is never lost.”
Yunus is expected to remain interim leader until elections are held next year. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina remains in India after fleeing the country during the unrest, while her supporters abroad continue to demand action against the current government.