Hundreds of Bangladeshi-Americans converged on New York’s Times Square and later outside the United Nations headquarters to stage powerful demonstrations against the interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
The protesters alleged that the interim administration installed after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, has unleashed a wave of political repression, sectarian violence, and systematic dismantling of Bangladesh’s secular democratic fabric.
“Restore Democracy, Protect Minorities”
Waving placards and chanting slogans like “Restore Democracy,” “Protect Minorities,” and “Reject Unconstitutional Rule,” the demonstrators demanded global scrutiny of what they described as an “illegal regime” propped up by the military and Islamist groups.
Human rights activist Dr. Rizwana Haque told reporters, “The ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh amounts to a violation of international human rights norms.”
Rights watchdogs including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have echoed these concerns, while the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues is reportedly preparing a formal report on the situation.
Protesters drew attention to targeted attacks on Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians since the interim authority seized power. One demonstrator speaking to news agency ANI alleged, “After the 5th of August 2024, minorities, Hindus and people from other religions have been killed… Millions have had to leave their country. It’s a dire condition in Bangladesh, and Yunus has to leave power and go for an election.”
Accusations of Extremism and Terror Links
The outrage was palpable outside the UN building, where chants of “Yunus is Pakistani, go back to Pakistan!” rang out. Several protestors accused the Yunus-led government of dragging Bangladesh toward religious extremism.
One protester warned, “We are here today in front of the United Nations to protest against Dr. Yunus, who is making Bangladesh a Taliban country, a terrorist country… He is committing atrocities against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and all minorities. We demand the release of the religious priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, whom Dr. Yunus has unlawfully kept in jail.”
The diaspora demonstrators were unanimous in their call: Yunus must step down, and Bangladesh must return to an elected government led by secular democratic forces.
Reminder of an “Illegally Ousted” Government
Protesters also underscored the political backdrop, emphasizing that Sheikh Hasina’s administration—widely recognized for its development achievements and commitment to secularism—was toppled undemocratically.
“The purpose of the rally is very simple,” explained one participant. “The democratically elected government of Sheikh Hasina was illegally ousted on August 5, 2024. Since then, in collusion with Islamist forces and terrorist organizations, Dr. Yunus has been systematically transforming Bangladesh into a semi-Taliban nation.”
Yunus’s Speech Inside the UN
Even as diaspora anger boiled outside, Yunus attempted to reassure global leaders in his address to the UN General Assembly. “Last year, in this august assembly, I spoke to you from a country that had just witnessed a popular uprising,” he said. “I shared with you our aspirations for transformation. Today, I stand here to tell you how far we have come on that journey.”
He further sought to highlight the contributions of Bangladeshi migrant workers, claiming their role was “equally valuable for host countries where they provide essential services in high demand.” Yunus called on host nations to “ensure empathy and protection.”
But for the Awami League-aligned diaspora, Yunus’s words rang hollow against the backdrop of escalating violence at home. For them, the protests were not just about Hasina’s ouster but about defending Bangladesh’s secular democratic foundation from what they see as the creeping grip of extremism.
