POBNEWS24, Dhaka Oct 13, 2026 : Mohammad Yunus targeted by a group of expatriate Bangladeshis at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Nobel laureate economist and chief advisor to the interim government was blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people and the damage to democracy in Bangladesh. Amidst the shouting, the expatriate Bangladeshis also called Yunus a ‘militant’. It is worth noting that this was the Nobel laureate Yunus’ first foreign trip after stepping down from the post of chief advisor. There have also been demands for an anti-corruption investigation against him and the Grameen Group he founded.
In a video circulating on social media, a man can be heard shouting at Mohammad Yunus, “You are a militant. You have killed people in Bangladesh. Why have you come here? Tell us, why have you come?”
The tense situation arose after Yunus arrived at Terminal 8 on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. Video footage showed people shouting at the former chief adviser as he was wheeled out of the airport in a wheelchair. Some even demanded that he “go back.”
Protesters blamed Yunus for the deaths of thousands of police officers. Protesters allege that nearly 200,000 people have been arrested in Bangladesh since the uprising.
Security personnel at John F. Kennedy International Airport then removed Yunus from the scene. Yunus and his entourage, Lamia Morshed, rushed into the airport during the tense situation.
The identities of the expatriates involved in the incident are not yet confirmed. A Bangladeshi media outlet has described the protesters as supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party.
There was no immediate response from Yunus or his representatives on the incident or the allegations.
Sheikh Hasina’s interim administration has faced criticism for its handling of violence and unrest since her ouster in August 2024. Political opponents have blamed the government for failing to prevent attacks and maintain law and order. The Awami League has also alleged that its leaders and activists were targeted for violence during the interim administration.
The killings and unrest have further fuelled criticism of the administration’s ability to ensure security and deliver justice. Critics, including Sheikh Hasina and relatives of various political figures, have accused the government of failing to take appropriate action in the wake of the violence.
Human rights concerns during the interim period included reports of attacks on the Hindu community and its places of worship, allegations of arbitrary arrests and deaths in police custody, and the treatment of political supporters. Human rights groups have also raised concerns about accountability for various wrongdoings. To fully understand the nature and extent of each incident, it is necessary to verify it based on documented investigations and reports.
An ordinance issued by Yunus in January 2026 prohibited the police or other law enforcement agencies from conducting regular criminal investigations into the activities of participants in the July–August 2024 mass uprising that were covered by the ordinance. Instead, allegations of killings, including those involving police personnel, were referred to the National Human Rights Commission. The purpose of this was to determine whether the activities were political resistance or criminal offenses. This effectively removed these cases from the scope of the normal criminal justice process.
Indo-Bangladesh relations also deteriorated during Yunus’ tenure. His remarks in China (March 2025) on India’s northeastern states and his comments on minority protection and various bilateral grievances were criticized in India. Political opponents and critics have called Yunus’s approach “counterproductive public diplomacy.” New Delhi, on the other hand, has repeatedly called for more restraint in language and protection of minorities.
When a section of Bangladeshis living in the US shouted, “You are a terrorist, why did you come here?”, the heated situation only served to illustrate the pent-up anger among some Bangladeshis living abroad against Yunus, who had led the country through turbulent and changing times.
