Govt condemns harassment of Yunus at JFK airport, seeks legal action against those involved
The foreign ministry has asked Bangladesh’s mission in New York to work with local law enforcement to identify those responsible and take legal action.
The government has condemned the harassment of former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport and asked Bangladesh's mission there to work with local law enforcement to identify those involved and pursue legal action.
In a statement issued today (13 October), the government said a group suspected of having links to the Awami League, whose political activities are currently banned, was believed to be behind the incident involving the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The statement also said the incident had tarnished the image of Bangladesh and its citizens in the eyes of the international community.
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Earlier in the day, a 1-minute-5-second video surfacing on social media shows several people approaching Yunus, who was seated in a wheelchair, and shouting slogans at him inside the airport premises.
The protesters were heard shouting, "You are a terrorist" and "Why did you come here?" They also accused Yunus of undermining democracy in Bangladesh.
The footage shows Yunus moving forward with security personnel and associates as the protesters continue shouting at him.
The date and time of the incident could not be independently confirmed as of publication.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman condemned the incident at a press briefing at the Secretariat, saying those responsible would not be spared.
He referred to them as "Awami League criminals".
