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Awami League leaders accused of harassing Yunus in New York
Published : Tuesday, 13 October, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Observer Online Report
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faced protests at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, with several leaders of the Awami League accused of confronting him.
Yunus came under fire from protesters as he was leaving the airport in a wheelchair at around 3:45 PM local time on Monday, October 12.
Lamia Morshed, chief coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) affairs in the interim government and executive director of the Yunus Centre, was beside him carrying luggage.
Videos circulating on social media showed Imdad Chowdhury, general secretary of the New York Metropolitan Awami League, and Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of the US Jubo League, among several people who approached Yunus.
He was then taken back inside the terminal in his wheelchair as the protesters followed him.
One of the protesters was heard shouting allegations against Yunus, accusing him of killing thousands of people in Bangladesh, calling him a terrorist and alleging that he had destroyed democracy in the country.
Officials at the Bangladesh mission in New York were contacted for comment on the incident, but no response was received.
Meanwhile, Yunus cancelled his planned visit to Berlin, where he was scheduled to attend the three-day World Health Summit from October 11 to 13.
The cancellation came after several organisations of expatriate Bangladeshis in Europe expressed objections to his participation. Organisers had previously announced that Yunus would attend, but his name was no longer on the list of speakers shortly before the summit began.
Government adviser Dr Zahedur Rahman has announced legal action against those involved in the airport incident. Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) also expressed anger over the incident.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
