New York: Former Chief Advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, faced a wave of intense protests from angry Bangladeshi expatriates upon his arrival at the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York. The demonstrators aggressively confronted the Nobel laureate, accusing him of orchestrating violence, ruining their homeland, and severely damaging its democratic institutions.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded on Monday shortly after Dr. Yunus arrived at Terminal 8 aboard a Qatar Airways flight originating from Doha. Footage of the incident, which has since gone viral across various social media platforms, shows the former leader seated in a wheelchair while being escorted by a tight security ring. As he navigated through the busy airport, a large group of expatriates gathered around his entourage, loudly voicing their anger and frustration over his recent tenure in Bangladesh.
In the viral videos, the protesters did not hold back in their verbal assault, repeatedly labelling the global figure a “terrorist.” The crowd could be heard chanting aggressively, shouting, “Why have you come here? You have ruined Bangladesh, you have killed thousands of people, you are a terrorist, you have destroyed the democracy of our country.”
The demonstrators specifically criticised the role of his administration and the police force during his leadership. Highlighting this anger, one individual in the footage was distinctly heard screaming, “You have taken the lives of thousands of police officers in my country. Why are you here?” Some protesters even demanded that he immediately return to where he came from.
Despite the chaotic and hostile environment, Dr. Yunus appeared entirely unfazed. The video clips show him maintaining a calm composure, smiling peacefully as his security team and close aides navigated the angry crowd. Accompanied by his associate Lamia Morshed, the former Chief Advisor was quickly ushered out of the airport terminal, ignoring the continuous taunts.
This New York visit is notably Dr. Yunus’s first international trip since he vacated the position of Chief Advisor to the interim government. While the footage has sparked widespread discussions online, the specific identities of the individuals involved in the airport demonstration have not yet been independently verified. So far, Dr. Yunus’s official office has chosen to remain tight-lipped, with no formal statement released regarding the airport incident.