Bangladesh’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, has urged national unity in the face of what he described as a coordinated “campaign” by “big countries” to undermine the legitimacy of the uprising that brought his administration to power.
Speaking on Wednesday to representatives of political parties, Yunus stopped short of naming any specific country but addressed escalating tensions, particularly with India.
Without directly naming India, Yunus referred to “big countries” allegedly involved in spreading misinformation about the new government.
“Many are not liking our freedom, the (new) independence, desperate efforts are being made to upset it,” Yunus told leaders representing several political parties, including ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia’s BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and left-leaning groups.
During the meeting, Yunus sought political leaders’ input on three critical issues: alleged propaganda against Bangladesh in India and other parts of the world, an attack on the Bangladeshi mission in Agartala, and accusations of minority persecution within the country.
Yunus criticized what he referred to as attempts to portray the July-August uprising, which led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister, as a destabilising event. “The quarters who did not like the uprising are trying to depict it domestically and internationally as something dangerous,” he said.
In remarks captured in video footage released by his office, Yunus called for collective action to counter the narrative. “We have to tell the entire world that we are one. We achieved this together. This has now become a matter of our existence,” he said.
The interim leader’s remarks came against a backdrop of strained ties with India, heightened by allegations of violence against minorities and the recent attack on the Bangladeshi mission in Agartala.