Muhammad Yunus, who led Bangladesh’s interim government from August 2024 to February 2026, has long been a polarising figure. His administration was accused of unleashing fundamentalist mobs and releasing prisoners who targeted minorities. The fallout set the stage for the tense episode at JFK.
On Oct. 13, 2026, a video resurfaced of a man at New York’s JFK Airport shouting, “You terrorist, why did you come here?” The man, identified as a Bangladeshi expatriate, directed the slur at Yunus as he was wheeled in a wheelchair. Eyewitnesses reported the crowd’s roar, but police did not intervene. The clip went viral within hours, sparking outrage on social media.
Yunus’s tenure saw a spike in violent attacks against Hindus, with several high‑profile cases. The UN estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed in July 2024 uprisings, most by security forces. Critics argue that Yunus’s policies enabled these mobs. His government, meanwhile, dismissed the incidents as isolated law‑and‑order failures.
NCP Diaspora Alliance USA, a group linked to the banned Awami League, condemned the harassment and urged JFK authorities to investigate. The group cited earlier egg‑throwing incidents in September 2025 involving Yunus’s entourage. They called the act of targeting a visiting statesman on U.S. soil unacceptable.
The episode echoes the plight of garment factory worker Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched and burned in 2025 after an alleged blasphemy charge. His death, and others like it, underscore the precarious situation for minorities in Bangladesh. The viral video has reignited global scrutiny of Yunus’s legacy.
The New York Police Department has opened a preliminary investigation into the assault. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department is reviewing its diplomatic posture toward Bangladesh amid growing concerns about safety.