An exiled ex-Bangladeshi parliamentarian and senior member of the Awami League has announced a protest in the UK against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who is currently visiting the country. The protest, set to coincide with Yunus’s engagements in London, including an award ceremony, aims to challenge what organisers describe as “global misperceptions” of Yunus as a promoter of peace and development.
Speaking exclusively to Asian Voice, the former MP claims that under Yunus’s interim leadership in Bangladesh, the country has descended into political turmoil, religious and ethnic persecution, and constitutional overreach.
The interviewee alleges widespread violence and intimidation against Awami League supporters since Yunus's political rise, citing what he describes as systemic targeting by Islamist groups and state actors. According to him, tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed, students disenfranchised from education, and professionals barred from employment due to perceived political loyalties. These claims, while difficult to independently verify, reflect broader concerns raised in parts of Bangladeshi civil society.
He further claims that opposition parties, especially those seen as pro-liberation or secular, are being sidelined. “Over 40 political parties are demanding elections by December, but Yunus has proposed April 2026, raising fears of indefinite delay,” he says. “Many suspect he may use a referendum as a pretext to extend his tenure beyond legal bounds.”
Accusations of foreign alignment
The interviewee also claims Yunus is pushing controversial foreign policies, including facilitating a proposed humanitarian corridor in Myanmar’s Rakhine province, which critics fear may serve military purposes. “This is being done without public support or parliamentary debate,” he says, adding that key strategic assets, such as the Chittagong port and Sonadia Island, are being earmarked for foreign control.
He accuses Yunus of aligning with global powers, particularly the United States and Pakistan, at the cost of Bangladesh’s sovereignty. He also warns of growing influence from Jamaat-e-Islami and other extremist organisations, suggesting that democratic values are being subverted under the guise of interim governance.
Despite his Nobel Peace Prize and global acclaim, Yunus has little domestic support, according to the protest organiser. “He has built an effective PR network internationally,” the former MP claims, “but the ground reality in Bangladesh tells a very different story.”
The protest, organised by the UK chapter of the Awami League, will call on British political leaders and the monarchy to reconsider awarding Yunus any honours. “We’re not here just to shout slogans. We’ll present documents, testimonies, and facts,” he says. “The UK must be made aware that the image of Yunus as a peacebuilder is deeply flawed.”
He also referenced the case of British MP Tulip Siddiq, niece of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned from Keir Starmer’s cabinet following allegations of corruption made by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission. “There is no evidence against her,” he asserted. “Her resignation is the result of a politically motivated media trial, not wrongdoing.” Siddiq has reportedly sought a meeting with Yunus to clarify matters.
Risks to regional stability and minorities under threat
The interviewee paints a grim picture of rising communal violence. Temples, shrines, and homes belonging to minority communities, including Hindus and Shi’a Muslims, have reportedly been attacked or desecrated in recent months. “It’s not just about religion,” he explains. “It’s political. These communities are viewed as loyal to the Awami League and are being punished for it.”
He adds that families are being displaced or coerced into silence, with incidents of arson, arbitrary arrests, and mass displacements largely going unreported due to state censorship and fear. “Three levels of censorship now dominate Bangladesh—state-driven, movement-led, and internalised self-censorship.”
The former MP also warns that deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh could threaten regional security. “If Bangladesh becomes unstable, neighbouring India, especially its northeastern states, will face consequences,” he cautions. “Terrorist activities and displacement will not stay within borders.”
He asserts that peaceful elections with genuine political participation, including that of Awami League, are essential to prevent Bangladesh from slipping into deeper crisis. “This is not about one man or one party. This is about preserving democracy, secularism, and regional peace.”
