‘You terrorist’: Bangladeshi Muhammad Yunus heckled at New York airport — Why immigrants are angry | Follow | Today’s news
Muhammad Yunus, who headed Bangladesh’s interim government after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, faced an angry confrontation with Bangladeshi expatriates at New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport on Monday.
Yunus was called a “terrorist” and accused of being responsible for killings and undermining democracy in Bangladesh. Several protesters shouted accusations at the Nobel laureate as security personnel escorted him out of the airport in a wheelchair.
“You terrorist. You killed people in Bangladesh. Why did you come here? Tell us why you came?” in a video circulating on social media, a man could be heard shouting at Yunus.
The confrontation occurred after Yunus arrived at Terminal 8 on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha.
He and his assistant Lamia Morshed subsequently returned to the airport, where security personnel intervened and took him away.
Protesters also accused the Yunus administration of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of police officers and claimed that around two million people had been arrested in Bangladesh.
The confrontation reflects anger among some Bangladeshi expatriates over political violence, arrests and allegations of human rights abuses during Yunus’ tenure as head of the interim administration.
Critics have accused the interim government of failing to respond adequately to the violence and of failing to ensure accountability for alleged abuses.
There have also been calls for an investigation into Yunus and allegations related to his wider business interests, according to reports.
Rights concerns related to arrests, deaths in custody and attacks on minorities
Yunus’ interim administration has faced criticism over reports of attacks on Hindu communities and places of worship, allegations of arbitrary arrests and deaths in custody, and concerns over the treatment of political supporters.
Human rights groups have also raised questions about responsibility for abuses related to the July-August 2024 uprising that led to Hasina’s removal.
In January 2026, an ordinance introduced by the Yunus administration regarding alleged crimes committed during the uprising explored its implications for criminal investigations.
According to reports, the measure curtailed routine criminal investigations by the police and other law enforcement agencies into certain actions of the insurgents, with allegations being referred to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The decree has raised questions about how allegations of homicide and other serious crimes will be investigated and whether the mechanism will ensure accountability. The exact scope and legal effect of the measures should be determined from the decree itself.
Why did Indo-Bangladesh relations deteriorate under Yunus?
Relations between Delhi and Dhaka were strained during Yunus’ tenure as existing tensions were compounded by disagreements over regional security, minority rights and political rhetoric.
Yunus drew criticism in India after remarks he made during a visit to China in March 2025 regarding the strategic position of Bangladesh and the northeastern states of India. His comments raised concerns in India about their implications for regional connectivity and security.
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The safety of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh has also become a recurring point of contention. New Delhi called for protection of minorities while both sides exchanged concerns over developments in their respective countries.
These disagreements developed against the backdrop of Hasina’s presence in India after her removal from office.
Bangladesh to take legal action over airport incident
Yunus stepped down as head of Bangladesh’s interim administration on February 16, ahead of handing over power to an elected government.
The identities of the people involved in the confrontation at JFK have not been independently confirmed.
However, the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Information and Communications Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said on Tuesday that Dhaka would take legal action against them.
