The Voice News: Protests expected across London during Yunus’s visit, as Bangladeshi diaspora decries the erosion of democracy and human rights under his unelected regime
The Awami League has voiced grave concern over reports that UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may formally meet with Muhammad Yunus, the self-declared “Chief Adviser” of Bangladesh, who has seized control of the nation’s governance without electoral mandate. The party warned that such engagement risks legitimizing a deeply authoritarian and unconstitutional regime.
“It is both ironic and alarming that an unelected leader is seeking a red-carpet welcome from the birthplace of modern democracy,” stated Mohammad Arafat, spokesperson for the Awami League. “If the UK government chooses to host Muhammad Yunus in an official capacity, it undermines the UK’s historic commitment to democratic values and sends a dangerous signal to authoritarian leaders worldwide.”
A formal protest letter from the UK branch of the Awami League has been submitted to 10 Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the King’s Foundation. The letter appeals for caution, urging British institutions to refrain from inadvertently offering political validation to a government widely viewed as repressive and illegitimate.
Authoritarianism Rising Amid Economic Decline
Yunus’s visit to London comes as Bangladesh suffers from sharp economic regression, widespread civil unrest, and the suppression of political and civil liberties. In just ten months of rule, his administration has presided over:
The banning of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s founding political party supported by tens of millions;
The persecution of journalists, with over 140 facing politically motivated charges;
A spike in gender-based violence and attacks on religious minorities;
A deterioration in economic stability, with the IMF downgrading the nation’s outlook;
And a rising influence of Islamist groups previously marginalized in Bangladesh’s secular governance tradition.
Despite international pressure, Yunus recently announced general elections for April 2026—a move critics say is hollow without lifting the ban on the Awami League and restoring meaningful multiparty democracy.
“An election cannot be free and fair if the country’s largest political party is outlawed,” said Arafat. “This is democracy in name only.”
Mass Protests Planned in London
Bangladeshi-origin demonstrators and exiles—many of whom fled political persecution—plan to protest throughout Yunus’s UK visit. Key demonstrations include:
Chatham House: Wednesday, June 11 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM (UK time)
UK Parliament: Thursday, June 12 | All-day demonstration
The diaspora communities are voicing concerns over political suppression, religious intolerance, and the rising power of extremist factions within Bangladesh’s interim government.
Awami League’s Full Letter: A Plea for Democratic Integrity
In its letter, the UK Awami League outlines a series of alarming developments under Yunus’s rule:
Mass arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and journalists;
Show trials and denial of due process for senior Awami League figures, including Dr Dipu Moni, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Anisul Huq, and Arif Khan;
Intensifying gender violence, including the cancellation of a girls’ football tournament under pressure from fundamentalist groups;
Documented collaboration between the interim government and groups with links to international terrorism, such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Chatra Shibir, HuJI-B, and Hizb ut-Tahrir;
More than 2,000 attacks on religious minorities, with widespread vandalism of Hindu temples and the arrest of spiritual leaders like Chinmoy Krishna Das.
The letter also warns of growing instability:
“Bangladesh’s once-thriving economy—praised globally for poverty reduction—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.”
The letter concludes with an appeal to the UK government:
“We respectfully urge His Majesty’s Government to raise these matters directly with Muhammad Yunus. Only through restoration of democratic order, protection of civil rights, and commitment to pluralism can Bangladesh reclaim its rightful place among the world’s democratic nations.”