Ambassador Faces Mob Threats Over Explosive Allegations Against Dr. Yunus

Staff Reporter

The interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus is preparing to take punitive action against diplomat Mohammad Harun Al-Rashid over his explosive allegations on social media, particularly his criticism of the Yunus government and its alleged role in overthrowing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s legitimate government. Harun, who served as Bangladesh’s ambassador to Morocco, has been accused of not returning to Dhaka after leaving his post and instead staying in Canada.

In a recent Facebook post, Harun made shocking allegations against Dr. Yunus and his government, claiming that Dr. Yunus illegally seized power by ousting Sheikh Hasina’s elected government. On Friday, March 14, Harun wrote on his Facebook page: “An appeal for Bangladesh and myself. Subject: The descent into chaos under Dr. Yunus—the world’s silence is painful. To the conscience of humanity: Bangladesh today suffers under the brutality unleashed by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Millions face a grim reality—death, exile, or surrender to extremism.”

Harun accused Dr. Yunus of seizing power through terrorist means: “On August 5, 2024, the country faced one of its darkest chapters—a well-planned terrorist attack that overthrew Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s legitimate government and shook the foundations of Bangladesh. As the country burned and order collapsed, Muhammad Yunus emerged as the usurper. How will history remember this? Perhaps as the most horrific and successful terrorist act—one that changed the entire country overnight.”

Harun further described the power shift as a planned conspiracy: “For years, digital terrorists like Pinaki Bhattacharya and Ilias Hossain have used Western countries to spread extremism in Bangladesh. They created instability by spreading false propaganda against the government online. Pinaki from France and Ilias from the US targeted the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum for destruction, revealing their horrifying agenda.”

On extremism and minority persecution, Harun wrote: “Jihadists in Bangladesh, such as Farhad Mazhar and Zahedur Rahman, exploited Sheikh Hasina’s policies of free speech to propagate extremism. They spread hatred against Hindus and India, solely because Hindus were safe under Sheikh Hasina’s rule.”

Harun accused Dr. Yunus of erasing Bangladesh’s history and identity: “Under Yunus’s direct supervision, these jihadists have destroyed Bangladesh’s secular and cultural identity, erasing its history and heritage. They have not only destroyed museums, murals, sculptures, and cultural symbols but also demolished hundreds of Sufi shrines and Hindu temples. Under Yunus’s rule, Bangladesh has become one of the most oppressive countries for women. Minorities and secular people live in constant fear, while groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda openly fly their black flags, demanding an Islamic caliphate. The terrorists of July-August emerged from these groups.”

“But Dr. Yunus not only protected them—he empowered them. Terrorists became ministers in his government, and those he couldn’t appoint as ministers were given the opportunity to form political parties.”

It is reported that Harun Al-Rashid, a skilled government officer serving as ambassador to Morocco, was removed from his post in September last year on the “orders” of Dr. Yunus’s trusted YouTuber, Zulkarnain Saer Samir, for the “crime” of writing a book on Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Harun was also labeled a “collaborator” of the Awami League government and ordered to return to Bangladesh. However, fearing persecution, he chose to stay abroad.

Harun’s Facebook post has added fuel to the fire in Dhaka. In response, the Yunus government has decided to take punitive action against him.

Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that Harun Al-Rashid has been instructed to face disciplinary action for criticizing the interim government, siding with the previous government, and not returning to Dhaka as directed.

A diplomatic source in Dhaka said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will decide on punitive measures against Harun by Friday, March 14. However, the nature of the disciplinary action remains unclear.

Harun Al-Rashid, a 20th BCS Foreign Service cadre officer, previously served as Deputy High Commissioner in Canada before being appointed ambassador to Morocco. Pro-Yunus YouTubers have incited mobs against him on social media, particularly after he wrote a book on the Sheikh family, which led to public outrage following the events of August 5.

Harun, who joined the Foreign Service in 2001, has held diplomatic positions in Rome, Cairo, Mexico City, and Madrid. He was posted to the Ottawa mission after serving as Director General of the Public Diplomacy Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.