Dhaka,June 16, 2025 — In a strongly worded letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, has raised serious concerns about the interim government’s claims of UN involvement in critical national decisions, including the establishment of a “Humanitarian Corridor” and proposed foreign infrastructure on St. Martin’s Island.The letter, dated June 10, 2025, alleges that the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus is invoking the UN’s name to justify controversial and potentially unconstitutional actions without public or parliamentary consent. According to the letter, Yunus’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman have stated that the United Nations pressured the interim regime into approving the corridor initiative. Dr. Momen directly asked the Secretary-General to confirm or deny these claims.Citing national outrage, particularly from the military and major political parties, the former minister noted that any such decision regarding sovereign territory and humanitarian operations should be taken by an elected government after full consultation with stakeholders.The letter also references alarming reports that the UN allegedly encouraged the establishment of foreign command and communication facilities, possibly Western-backed, on St. Martin’s Island — a move perceived as a threat to Bangladesh’s territorial sovereignty and geopolitical neutrality.Dr. Momen also expressed concern over statements reportedly made by Ms. Lewis Guyen, the UN’s resident representative in Dhaka. She is said to have downplayed the UN’s role in recent decisions and allegedly implied that a national election could still be deemed legitimate without the participation of the Awami League — Bangladesh’s largest political party. Dr. Momen asked whether such statements reflect the official stance of the UN.The letter paints a grim picture of the human rights and political situation in Bangladesh. Among the key allegations:Over 360,000 arrests have occurred over the past ten months, while the prison system can only house 42,000 inmates.Deaths in custody and inhumane overcrowding conditions are reportedly increasing.More than 18,000 fabricated murder cases have allegedly been filed to extort money from opposition members.The World Bank reportedly estimates that 3 million more people have fallen below the poverty line under the interim regime’s policies.Dr. Momen accused the interim government of weaponizing the legal system to suppress political dissent and warned of a collapse in the rule of law, civil liberties, and judicial independence.He concluded the letter by urging the United Nations to:1. Publicly clarify its position on the Humanitarian Corridor and St. Martin’s Island developments.2. Disassociate itself from any unconstitutional actions by the interim authority.3. Deploy a UN-led fact-finding mission to assess the state of human rights and rule of law in Bangladesh.4. Reaffirm its commitment to inclusive democratic processes and free, fair elections involving all major political stakeholders.Dr. Momen underscored that the people of Bangladesh view the United Nations as a guardian of justice and international norms, and he expressed hope that the global body would help protect democracy and human rights in the country during this critical period.The UN has not yet issued a public response to the letter.
