London: Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Heathrow Airport and also at a Central London hotel as Bangladesh's interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus began a four-day visit to the United Kingdom this week. Carrying black flags and banners, protestors shouted slogans like "Go back Yunus", labelling him as a promoter of militancy and radicalism in Bangladesh.
Many also demanded the immediate release of detained Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, asserting that it should be Yunus instead who should face the trial and be behind bars.
Several eyewitnesses said that demonstrators, most of them from the Awami League and comprising Bangladeshis living in the UK after being forced to flee the country since Yunus' accession to power 10 months ago, even hurled shoes and eggs at the convoy of Yunus as it moved from the airport to the hotel.
The demonstrators are also deeply unhappy with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for reportedly scheduling a meeting with Yunus this week, warning that any formal meeting lends legitimacy to an unelected and unconstitutional administration.
In the wake of the student-led quota movement, Bangladesh has descended into violence and instability. In the three months following last summer’s protests, over 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. At the same time, civil unrest continues to grow. Most recently, public sector workers have taken to the streets to oppose unpopular reforms, adding to widespread discontent.
Yunus says he will step down after electionsNearly 10 months after taking over as the head of an interim government in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus said there was "no way" he wanted to continue in power after elections, AFP news agency reported. Yunus announced that elections will be held in Bangladesh in the first half of April 2026. “The Election Commission will provide you with a detailed roadmap for the elections at an appropriate time,” he said. |
