'Go back, you terrorist': Angry Bangladeshi expats confront Muhammad Yunus at New York airport

Bangladesh's former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus faced protests from a group of Bangladeshi expatriates at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport on Monday, October 12. Demonstrators accused him of undermining democracy in Bangladesh and held him responsible for deaths and alleged abuses during his tenure. Yunus arrived at the airport aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. According to Dhaka-based Daily Sun, a video circulating on social media showed protesters confronting him after he reached Terminal 8. In the footage, a man can be heard shouting, "You, terrorist, why did you come here? You have destroyed the democracy in my country!" Muhammad Yunus has been spotted at JFK airport, New york. "You, terrorist why did you come here. You have destroyed the democracy in my country!" https://t.co/SjUMUc7WIg -- subash kumar (@Krishan10_) October 13, 2026 Several protesters hurled accusations at Yunus as he was being escorted out of the airport in a wheelchair. Some called him a "terrorist", accused him of killing Bangladeshis and police personnel, and shouted, "Go back". Security personnel subsequently escorted Yunus away from the scene. According to the report, Yunus and Lamia Morshed, who was accompanying him, briefly moved back inside the airport during the confrontation. The identities of the protesters and the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be immediately confirmed. Protesters make allegations over deaths, arrests The demonstrators alleged that around two lakh people had been arrested in Bangladesh and blamed Yunus for the deaths of thousands of police personnel. These claims could not be independently verified. Yunus headed Bangladesh's interim administration after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising in August 2024. His administration faced criticism from political opponents over its handling of violence and unrest following Hasina's departure. The Awami League and other critics accused the interim government of failing to prevent attacks on political supporters and maintain law and order. The period also saw concerns over attacks on Hindu communities and places of worship, allegations of arbitrary arrests and custodial deaths, and demands for accountability for alleged abuses. In January 2026, an ordinance introduced by Yunus's administration restricted routine criminal investigations into certain actions by participants in the July-August 2024 uprising covered by its protections. Under the framework, allegations of killings, including those involving police personnel, were referred to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to assess whether the acts constituted political resistance or criminal conduct. India-Bangladesh ties deteriorated during Yunus's tenure Relations between India and Bangladesh also came under strain during Yunus's time in office. His remarks in China in March 2025 about India's northeastern states drew criticism in India. Disagreements over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and other bilateral concerns further complicated ties. New Delhi repeatedly called for restraint in public rhetoric and urged greater attention to the protection of minorities in Bangladesh. Yunus stepped down in February 2026 Yunus stepped down as head of Bangladesh's interim administration on February 16, ahead of the transfer of power to an elected government. In his farewell address, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate called for democratic practices, freedom of speech and civil liberties to be preserved. "Today, the interim government is stepping down. But let the practice of democracy, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights that has begun not be halted," he said.