Protests started outside the UN Headquarters as soon as Muhammad Yunus addressed the UNGA.

Protests broke out outside the UN Headquarters in New York as Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus addressed the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The protesters gathered outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York and raised slogans and expressed strong opposition to the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh.

Slogans like “Terrorist, minority killer, Hindu killer Yunus, go back, step down” were raised outside the UN headquarters in New York.

During the demonstration, a protestor said that Yunus has no right to speak on behalf of Bangladesh. “We have gathered here,” he/she said. A person who is not elected is rendering Bangladesh, a constitutionally run country, illegal. he/she (Yunus) has no right to speak on behalf of the 170 million people of Bangladesh.”

The protester said, “Dr. Yunus is representing Bangladesh in the United Nations. 50 years ago, at this very place, Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman addressed the world in Bengali and today Dr. Yunus gave his/her lecture in English…”

It is noteworthy that after the removal of former PM Sheikh Hasina from power, incidents of atrocities on Bangladeshi minorities including Hindus came to light.

They raised slogans, “Go back, step down, step down, step down” and waved posters that read, “Sheikh Hasina our Prime Minister.”

Notably, while addressing the UNGA on Friday, Yunus lauded his/her countrymen for the massive anti-government protests that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina from power and said Generation Z has helped the country regain those values. From which it was born in 1971.

Yunus expressed hope that collective resolve should define the “Bangladesh of the future”.

“I stand in this parliament of nations, thankful for the change that Bangladesh saw this July and August. The power of the common people, especially our youth, has provided our country with the opportunity to reform many of our systems and institutions, Yunus said at the 79th session of the UNGA.

“The student-led rebellion was initially aimed at ending discrimination. Gradually this movement developed into a mass movement. The world finally saw how people stood up against tyranny, oppression, discrimination, injustice and corruption both in the streets and online.”

Notably, Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power amid student protests in Bangladesh, which turned into a massive anti-government movement, leading to the installation of an interim government.

During this turbulent period, several incidents of violence and anarchy have been reported from Bangladesh, particularly targeting minorities, including Hindus.

Yunus was sworn in as the head of the interim government on August 8 after Sheikh Hasina fled the country and Parliament was dissolved.