In a strong display of dissent, members of the Bangladeshi diaspora gathered outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday to voice opposition against Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser. Protesters accused Yunus of presiding over widespread human rights abuses and an alarming rise in attacks on religious minorities since assuming power following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Chanting slogans such as “Yunus is Pakistani, go back to Pakistan,” demonstrators expressed outrage over what they described as the systematic persecution of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians under the current administration.

Several participants alleged that the human rights situation in Bangladesh has worsened dramatically since Hasina’s departure. “Since August 5, 2024, minorities—especially Hindus—have been targeted. People are being killed, displaced, and forced to flee the country,” one protester told ANI.

Another protester described the political climate as “dangerously regressive,” accusing Yunus of steering the nation toward religious extremism. “He’s turning Bangladesh into a Taliban-like state. This government is responsible for atrocities against minorities,” the protester said. They also demanded the immediate release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a religious priest reportedly detained by Yunus’s administration.

The demonstrators alleged that Sheikh Hasina’s elected government was unlawfully removed and replaced by an unelected interim regime. “Dr Yunus has taken control through an undemocratic process, supported by Islamist forces. Since then, the secular foundation of Bangladesh has been under threat,” one organiser claimed.

Meanwhile, addressing the UN General Assembly, Muhammad Yunus defended his administration’s record, describing Bangladesh’s transformation since what he termed a “popular uprising.” He highlighted the country’s growing global presence and praised migrant workers for their vital contribution to both Bangladesh’s economy and host nations. “Migration is a partnership that benefits all. We must ensure empathy and protection for migrant workers,” Yunus said.

The protests underscore the deep divisions among Bangladeshis abroad over the country’s political trajectory and the fate of its religious minorities.