Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, delivering his second speech there since a youth-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule last year. The 80th UNGA session in New York drew crowds, but Yunus’s arrival also sparked protests outside the headquarters from supporters of the ousted prime minister. They rallied against Yunus, highlighting Bangladesh’s ongoing political tensions.
These demonstrations underscore deep divisions in the country. Protesters challenge Yunus’s legitimacy as interim chief adviser and raise alarms about human rights abuses and attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus. Some point fingers at radical groups like Jamaat-e-Islami for fueling the violence. Yunus’s government stepped in after the unrest and plans to hold general elections next year.
In his address, Yunus didn’t shy away from the drama with neighboring India. He accused India of sheltering Hasina and called for her extradition to face charges tied to the protests that led to her downfall. This has strained ties between the two nations—India has long voiced worries about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh under the current setup.
Yunus kicked off his speech by looking back at Bangladesh’s dramatic shift. “Last year, I spoke to you from a country fresh from a popular uprising,” he said, sharing the nation’s hopes for change. “Today, I’m here to update you on our progress.” With nearly 3% of the world’s population crammed into a small space, Yunus stressed that Bangladesh’s story shines through its people’s grit. “It’s a tale of ordinary folks wielding extraordinary power,” he added. “It shows that even in the darkest crises, renewal is always possible—and it gives hope to the world.”
Shifting to brighter notes, Yunus spotlighted Bangladesh’s economic lifeline: its migrant workers. Around 7.1 million Bangladeshis live abroad, sending home about $18 billion in remittances back in 2019, according to the International Organization for Migration. “These workers don’t just boost our economy—they fill key jobs in host countries too,” he said. Migration wins for everyone, Yunus argued, but he urged nations to treat migrants with compassion and safeguards.
Yunus didn’t hold back on global hot spots either. He backed a UN human rights probe’s stark warning on Gaza, calling it a “genocide happening live” and blasting the world’s slow response. “If we let this drag on, history won’t forgive us,” he warned, speaking for humanity’s sake.
Closer to home, Yunus expressed grave concerns about Myanmar’s endless conflict. The crisis in the neighboring nation threatens the whole region, he said, especially with the Rohingya facing ongoing persecution in Rakhine State. Yunus pushed for a political deal that includes all ethnic groups and grants the Rohingya full rights as citizens. He also flagged fading international aid for Rohingya refugees, noting the World Food Programme’s alert: Without fresh funds soon, food rations could drop to just $6 per person monthly, sparking more hunger and despair.
Wrapping up, Yunus tied it all together, reminding the assembly that no country faces these battles alone. “When a crisis hits one corner of the globe, it risks the security of us all,” he said. His words at the UNGA capture Bangladesh’s turbulent path forward amid broader world challenges.
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