Mohammad Yunus, representing Bangladesh at the UN General Assembly in New York, encountered a series of setbacks. His team was subjected to an egg attack upon arrival. In addition, Muslim countries appear to have distanced themselves from Bangladesh. Yunus did not manage to meet with any prominent leaders during his stay.
Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina left office in August 2024. He headed the Bangladeshi delegation to the UN meeting.
On September 22, Yunus and his team were attacked with eggs by supporters of Sheikh Hasina. Yunus’s car was also stopped. The police’s response was minimal, with those arrested released within a day.
This protest marks the first such incident for Yunus in the US, coinciding with the presence of leaders from 193 countries in New York for the UN meetings.
Although the acting head of Bangladesh, Yunus has not held any significant meetings in the last three days. His meetings have been restricted to minor figures. He has met with the Mayor of Paris and the American Ambassador. In contrast, Pakistan’s Prime Minister met with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey, and also met with Donald Trump.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has not addressed why Yunus hasn’t been able to secure bilateral talks with major international leaders.
Two major meetings were held in New York involving Muslim leaders. One focused on Gaza, the other on Kashmir. The Gaza meeting included Middle Eastern countries and Pakistan. The Kashmir meeting included leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Niger, and Azerbaijan.
Bangladesh was not invited to either meeting. Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority nation, and since Sheikh Hasina’s departure, Yunus’s inclination has been perceived as leaning towards Pakistan.