Prof Muhammad Yunus, former chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, was confronted by several banned Awami League (AL) activists at John F Kennedy International Airport on Monday, but suffered no harm, according to a member of his entourage.
Yunus arrived from Doha on a Qatar Airways flight on 12 October. Lamiya Morshed, a member of his entourage, confirmed his safety in a Facebook post at 3pm on Tuesday, sharing an affectionate photograph of the Nobel laureate with two children.
A video circulating on social media shows the confrontation taking place after Yunus reached Terminal 8. In it, Imdad Chowdhury, general secretary of the New York Metropolitan AL, Tanvir Kaiser, general secretary of the Jackson Heights AL unit, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of the US Jubo League, and New York State Awami League Office secretary former Students’ League leader Mehraj Fahmi stand in front of Yunus along with a group of others. Yunus is then wheeled back into the terminal.
The group followed him, and one man can be heard shouting: “You killed a thousand people in Bangladesh. He killed a thousand police in my country. He destroyed the democracy in my country.”
Reflecting on the incident, Lamiya Morshed wrote: “This incident merely exposes the extreme savagery and pettiness of those involved. It has caused no harm to sir.” Yunus took charge of the interim government after the July uprising, which ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule, and led the country’s transition for 18 months.
Professor Yunus answered the nation’s call and stepped in to help stabilize Bangladesh and manage its transition to democracy following the July Revolution.
He did not have to do this, but agreed to do so out of a sense of patriotism and respect for those who had sacrificed everything to bring down the Hasina dictatorship.
For 18 months, Yunus was the subject of a relentless campaign of lies and slander, including from those who argued that his only interest was in holding and maintaining power. Instead, he kept to his word, enabled free and fair elections, and handed power to an elected successor within 18 months.
During his time in office, Professor Yunus started the process of ensuring accountability for the crimes committed during the Hasina era and provided a pathway towards long needed reforms of the country’s economy and political system. It is now up to the elected government to continue this work.
After ending his tenure as Chief Adviser, Professor Yunus resumed his life’s work advocating for the world’s poorest and helping the world deal with some of the most pressing global challenges. He continues to keep a pace that would be a challenge for someone half his age.
Yunus is, and will remain, a hero to millions. Those who continue to vilify and harrass him in the name of the fascist government that preceded him can never take away from his many achievements. Their actions are contemptible.
Since leaving office, the 86-year-old has returned to his advocacy for the world’s poorest and to global challenges, maintaining a demanding schedule. His admirers describe him as a hero to millions and say those who vilify him cannot diminish his achievements.