Dr. Muhammad Yunus: Spinning Lies on Global Media While Bangladesh Burns

Opinion

Over the past week, Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been on a media spree, giving interviews to BBC Bangla, BBC India, and Sky News UK. His sudden engagement with the international press comes at a time when Bangladesh is teetering on the edge of chaos—law and order have collapsed, mob rule has become institutionalized, the economy is in freefall, and radical groups are operating with impunity. As the unelected head of an illegitimate interim government, Dr. Yunus has utterly failed in governance. Now, in a desperate bid to salvage his reputation, he has turned to foreign media to peddle lies and whitewash his disastrous rule.

A Nation in Turmoil—Yet Yunus Claims ‘All is Well’

In his BBC interviews, Dr. Yunus attempted to downplay the severity of the country’s situation, while his Sky News appearance focused on the controversial “Aynaghar” detention centers and legal cases involving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family. In every instance, he outright dismissed the worsening conditions in Bangladesh, spinning a fabricated narrative to mislead the world. With his local media under tight control, Yunus is now exploiting international platforms to manipulate global perception. But pretending the fire doesn’t exist doesn’t stop the house from burning.

In a baffling claim, Yunus told the BBC that law and order are “better than ever.” His justification? His government is “constantly monitoring” the situation. Yet, reality tells a very different story. On February 24, Dhaka University students staged protests demanding the resignation of the Home Affairs Advisor over his failure to ensure public safety. That same night, the advisor deflected blame onto the opposition party, washing his hands of all responsibility. On March 6, the Home Affairs Advisor, contradicting Yunus, admitted that mob rule has spiralled out of control, saying, “When the people become unruly, there’s nothing the law enforcement agencies can do.” Even Yunus’ own advisors are exposing the truth. Former student advisor, now the head of Student led party Nahid Islam, confessed to Reuters that the law-and-order situation has deteriorated so much that elections cannot be held this year. If even his closest allies are admitting this, why does Yunus continue to lie?

The Grim Reality of Bangladesh’s Streets

A few recent incidents highlight just how dire the situation has become. On March 4, in a premeditated attack, a violent mob stormed the residence of a former MP’s ex-wife in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. TV channels broadcast the vandalism live, yet law enforcement stood by, powerless. The next day, an extremist mob besieged Shahbagh Police Station, demanding the release of a man accused of harassing a female university student. They retrieved the complainant’s personal details, threatened her with rape and murder, and coerced her into withdrawing her case—allowing the accused to walk free. Then, on March 7, the banned terrorist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir openly held a “March for Khilafat” in the heart of Dhaka. Despite weeks of public promotion, security forces took no action. Earlier this month, the same group threatened Hindu families in Chittagong, forcing them to cancel wedding ceremonies during Ramadan. Law enforcement remained silent. And yet, Dr. Yunus has the audacity to claim that security is at an all-time high.

Yunus’ Global Lies—The World is Not Buying It

Another of Yunus’ grand deceptions is his claim that the international community is fully supporting his government and eager to collaborate. The facts, however, expose this as yet another fabrication. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was supposed to release the fourth instalment of a loan in December 2023. Under Sheikh Hasina’s administration, the first three instalments arrived on schedule. Under Yunus? Not a penny has come through, with no clarity on when (or if) it will be released. In January 2024, Switzerland cut all development aid to Bangladesh. Just days earlier, Yunus had returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, boasting that Switzerland wanted “closer ties” with his government. Instead, they slammed the door shut. USAID has terminated all financial assistance to Bangladesh, while the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has halved food aid for Rohingya refugees, a direct consequence of Yunus’ failing governance. His Nobel laureate status no longer grants him immunity from accountability. The world sees through his deception, and international support is crumbling under his watch.

The Economy in Shambles—Yet Yunus Claims ‘Recovery’

Dr. Yunus told the BBC that the economy is “on the path to recovery” and that his government is working on “structural reforms.” But once again, even his own advisors betray the truth. His Finance Advisor, Salehuddin Ahmed, admitted on March 5 that business activity has plummeted, leading to mass unemployment. At least 155 factories have shut down, rendering 134,000 workers jobless in just seven months. Bangladesh’s biggest corporations, Beximco and Gazi Group, have shut down, displacing hundreds of thousands of workers. No foreign investment has entered the country since Yunus took power. The economic collapse under his rule is worse than during the COVID-19 pandemic. But that hasn’t stopped him from lying about it.

The ‘Aynaghar’ Cover-Up: A Manufactured Scandal?

In his Sky News interview, Yunus spoke at length about his visit to the alleged “Aynaghar” detention centres. But if these facilities were such a major discovery, why did it take his government six months to reveal them? If these centres are real, why hasn’t the government disclosed their locations? Why hasn’t a single local media outlet been allowed to report on them? Instead, the only exclusive coverage was given to Sky News. Why were Yunus’ companions at the inspection criminals—including individuals linked to terrorism and drug trafficking? If Aynaghar is real, why all the secrecy? The inconsistencies in Yunus’ narrative suggest this is nothing more than a propaganda stunt, designed to distract from his government’s failures.

A Master of Deception

On December 29, 2024, Yunus gave an interview to journalist Nurul Kabir, where he admitted he was unsatisfied with his own performance. “I tried,” he said. “If it works, great. If not, bad luck.” Two months later, the country still is in ruins. Businesses have collapsed. Violence is rampant. The economy is shattered. The only people benefiting from Yunus’ rule are his hand-picked advisors and so-called student coordinators. But if there’s one thing Yunus has improved on, it’s his ability to lie with a smile. His latest interviews prove that he has mastered the art of deception.

As Bangladesh plunges deeper into chaos, Dr. Yunus’ strategy is clear: silence local critics, deny reality, and manipulate global perception. But the cracks in his facade are widening. The people of Bangladesh are suffering. And no amount of propaganda will change that truth.

– Aminul Hoque
(Security Analyst and Former Diplomat)