‘We Didn’t Harass Yunus; We Demanded Answers from Him,’ Protester Says

Staff Correspondent. Dhaka, October 13, 2026.

New York City Awami League General Secretary Emdad Chowdhury has denied allegations of harassment over the sloganeering and protests surrounding Dr. Muhammad Yunus, former chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in New York, USA. He claimed that Dr. Yunus was not harassed, but rather he was seeking answers about various incidents that occurred in Bangladesh during his tenure.

Emdad Chowdhury said,

‘When I saw Dr. Muhammad Yunus, I first asked, “Are you Dr. Yunus?” Then I said, “You destroyed Bangladesh while you were in power.”

A video circulating on social media shows a group of people shouting slogans and insulting Dr. Yunus at the airport. They can be heard chanting slogans such as ‘You are a terrorist’, ‘You killed Bangladeshis’, ‘Go back’ and ‘You destroy democracy’. At one point, security personnel quickly removed Dr. Yunus from the scene.

Emdad Chowdhury has been identified as one of the people present in the video. He admitted that he had asked various questions and made comments directed at Dr. Yunus. However, Emdad denied any physical assault, verbal abuse, or allegations of water being thrown at him or eggs being thrown at him.

He said, “I did not physically attack him. I asked him polite questions as we were leaving the airport. I did not abuse him, raise my hand, throw water or throw eggs at him. I just asked questions. I have the right to ask questions.”

Emdad claimed that 3,000 policemen and thousands of Awami League leaders and activists were killed in Bangladesh during Dr. Yunus’ tenure. He also alleged that there were incidents of arson at the homes of Awami League leaders, including his own.

Emdad said, “I asked him, ‘Who will take responsibility for these incidents?’ But he didn’t answer any of my questions.”

Dr. Emdad also admitted to the incident. He said, “I called him a terrorist. In my opinion, he is a terrorist. I believe he should be held accountable for the events in Bangladesh.”

However, the report found no evidence to support Emdad’s claim regarding the number of casualties in Bangladesh and Dr. Yunus’ direct responsibility for these incidents.

It is reported that Dr. Muhammad Yunus arrived at JFK Airport from Doha on a Qatar Airways flight on October 12, New York time.

As he was leaving the airport’s Terminal 8 in a wheelchair, some expatriate leaders and activists of the Awami League and Jubo League shouted slogans and made various comments at him.