The Voice News: Leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations staged a protest against Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. In the face of the protest, Yunus entered the hotel through the back door.
Tuesday’s protest was largely confined to the vicinity of the Park Lane hotel where Yunus is staying.
However, a small gathering in support of Yunus was also seen there, which included a handful of individuals affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami and some other Islamist parties.
On a four-day visit, the head of the Bangladesh government arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport at 7:05 AM local time on Tuesday. He was received by Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the UK, Abida Sultan. From there, he proceeded to The Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane.
According to The Sun 24’s UK correspondent, even before Yunus landed at Heathrow, Awami League activists from not only the UK but also other parts of Europe gathered in front of the hotel. They remained there from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM, holding protests with banners and placards carrying slogans against Yunus.
Among the protesters were former ministers of the previous Awami League government including Abdur Rahman, former State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, former Mayor of Sylhet Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, former MPs Habibur Rahman, Abu Zahir, Shafiqul Rahman Chowdhury, and Ranjit Sarkar.
Also present were leaders of Sylhet Metropolitan Awami League Bidhan Kumar Saha, UK Awami League General Secretary Sajidur Rahman Faruq, and Jubo League’s Jamal Khan, among others.
Sushanta Das Gupta, who has taken an active role in organizing the Awami League following the political shift in Bangladesh, told The Sun 24, “Yunus, who has unlawfully seized power in Bangladesh, will be resisted not only in the UK but wherever he goes. As a patriotic Bangladeshi and a supporter of the spirit of 1971, we cannot tolerate his misdeeds.”
“Every microsecond of Yunus’s visit to the UK will be marked by protests,” he added.
A photo of the Awami League protest in front of Muhammad Yunus’s hotel in London. Photo: Collected.
During his visit, Yunus is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the Bangladesh government. He is also expected to have courtesy meetings with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, several key ministers, political leaders, and top policy-makers in the UK government.
The main purpose of this four-day trip is to receive the ‘King Charles III Harmony Award’ at St. James’s Palace in London on June 12.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that efforts are being made to intimidate protesters opposing Muhammad Yunus in the UK.
A statement titled “Breaking News” was issued by an organization called “Reform Bangladesh,” which had not been previously known.
The statement claims that photos and videos of individuals protesting against Yunus have been sent to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Everyone in the videos will be identified, and their names and addresses will be forwarded to relevant departments in Bangladesh. Upon returning to the country, they will be arrested.
The statement also claims that Bangladesh’s “special intelligence agency” is currently operating in London.