The Voice News: The Awami League, Bangladesh’s largest political party, has issued a strong statement opposing any formal engagement between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Muhammad Yunus, who currently leads Bangladesh as the self-declared “Chief Adviser” of an unelected interim government.
As Yunus begins a controversial visit to the United Kingdom, the Awami League warned that any diplomatic recognition of his regime would embolden authoritarianism and undermine the UK’s long-standing commitment to democratic governance.
“It is both ironic and alarming that an unelected leader is seeking a red-carpet welcome from the birthplace of modern democracy,” said Mohammad Arafat, spokesperson for the Awami League. “If the UK government chooses to host Muhammad Yunus in an official capacity, it sends a dangerous signal to authoritarian leaders worldwide.”
Formal Protest Lodged with British Authorities
In response to Yunus’s visit, the UK chapter of the Awami League has submitted a formal protest letter addressed to several key British institutions, including:
10 Downing Street
The Speaker of the House of Commons
The Commonwealth Secretariat
The King’s Foundation
The letter urges British policymakers to withhold political recognition of Yunus’s interim regime, which the party deems illegitimate and repressive, and instead advocate for the restoration of democracy and civil rights in Bangladesh.
Mounting Authoritarianism and Economic Crisis
Yunus’s tenure has been marked by sweeping crackdowns on political opposition and civil society. According to the Awami League, in just ten months his interim government has:
Banned the Awami League, effectively eliminating the most popular political party;
and
Prosecuted over 140 journalists and media workers;
Presided over a surge in gender-based violence and attacks on religious minorities;
Overseen a sharp economic downturn, with the IMF downgrading Bangladesh’s outlook;
Enabled the resurgence of Islamist extremist groups.
While Yunus has announced general elections for April 2026, opposition leaders argue that no legitimate vote can take place while key political parties remain banned.
“An election cannot be free and fair if the country’s largest political party is outlawed,” Arafat stated. “This is democracy in name only.”
London Protests Scheduled During Yunus’s Visit
Members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, many of whom claim to have fled persecution, are organizing large-scale demonstrations in London during Yunus’s public appearances:
Chatham House: Wednesday, June 11 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM (UK time)
UK Parliament: Thursday, June 12 | All-day protest
Protesters plan to denounce the interim regime’s authoritarian practices and alleged ties to religious extremism.
Awami League’s Letter Highlights Alarming Abuses
The protest letter submitted to British authorities details a series of alleged human rights violations, including:
Mass arrests of opposition figures and independent journalists;
Politically motivated trials and imprisonment of top Awami League leaders, including Dr. Dipu Moni and Saber Hossain Chowdhury;
Suppression of women’s rights, such as canceling girls’ sports under pressure from religious extremists;
Alleged collaboration with Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, HuJI-B, and Hizb ut-Tahrir;
Over 2,000 attacks on religious minorities, especially Hindus, with desecration of temples and arrests of spiritual figures.
Warning of National Collapse
The letter ends with a grim forecast of Bangladesh’s trajectory:
“Bangladesh’s once-thriving economy—praised globally for poverty reduction and digital innovation—is now on the brink. Foreign investment is drying up. Political fear and extremist ideology are replacing innovation and civic pride. The social fabric of the nation is fraying.”
Call for UK Intervention
“We respectfully urge His Majesty’s Government to raise these matters directly with Muhammad Yunus. Only through the restoration of democratic order, protection of civil liberties, and a renewed commitment to pluralism can Bangladesh reclaim its rightful place among the world’s democratic nations,” the letter concludes.