Bangladesh Students’ League (BSL) expresses its strongest condemnation of the recent conduct and statements of Muhammad Yunus during his visit to the United Kingdom, particularly his appearance at Chatham House in London.
Muhammad Yunus—an unelected usurper who assumed authority through unconstitutional and illegitimate means—has for the past ten months consistently abused state resources, most notably through repeated foreign trips devoid of official status or diplomatic substance. His latest visit to the United Kingdom is a continuation of this pattern. It is neither a state visit nor is he formally received by the British government, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. This diplomatic cold shoulder mirrors Yunus’s earlier failures to secure formal meetings with leaders of friendly nations such as Qatar, the UAE, France, and India. His actions have brought nothing but humiliation to the image of Bangladesh on the global stage.
At Chatham House, Yunus participated in a public conversation chaired by its director, Ms. Bronwen Maddox. Rather than upholding the dignity of the country he purports to serve, he repeatedly demeaned Bangladesh in front of an international audience—clearly prioritizing his personal image over national interest. Which was absolutely disgraceful.
During the discussion, Ms. Maddox raised a pointed question regarding Yunus’s so-called “reform” agenda: Why does he not trust the people of Bangladesh to vote on these reforms? Why avoid democratic processes in favor of unelected commissions appointed by his clique? In response, Yunus could offer no credible justification. Maddox rightly implied that even a ‘referendum’ may help to make a point in challenging the ‘not democratic nature’ of the so-called “Charter” that Yunus and his associates are preparing. These observations actually makes it clear that this effort is a veiled attempt to dismantle the fundamental pillars of Bangladesh’s sacred Constitution—earned through the 6-Point Movement, the electoral mandate of 1970, and the supreme sacrifices of the Liberation War of 1971.
What shocked and insulted the people of Bangladesh the most was Yunus’s blatant denigration of the electorate during his response. On a global platform, he portrayed the Bangladeshi people as ignorant, corrupt, and unfit for democratic participation. He declared:
“…All the complicated things you tell them, they say, ‘Oh, forget it, you give me some money, I’ll give you my vote, that’s all.’ You could say that about every vote. That’s why we said, we don’t want to go down that path…”
This deeply offensive statement is a direct assault on the dignity, intelligence, and democratic consciousness of the Bangladeshi people. It exposes Yunus’s elitist contempt for the masses and his rejection of democratic accountability.
Further, when asked about Bangladesh’s foreign policy and relationships with key partners such as India and China, Yunus instead launched into a completely unrelated tirade about corruption, stating: “Bangladesh is so deep into corruption. Everything is corrupt, people are corrupt.”
Such reckless generalizations, made in the presence of global audiences, reveal a pattern of deliberate defamation—part of his ongoing campaign to portray himself as a messianic figure while tarnishing the image of the nation.
The Bangladesh Students’ League rejects this false narrative and condemns Yunus’s disgraceful behavior. His regime—installed through conspiracy, coordinated violence, and constitutional subversion—lacks any democratic legitimacy. He and his unelected circle have no mandate from the people to dictate the nation’s direction. Even during the Chatham House event, Yunus admitted, perhaps unintentionally, that the state’s security apparatus does not operate under his effective control—highlighting his failure to ensure basic stability and order.
The so-called “Charter” and “reform” agenda he touts is nothing more than a cloak for restructuring the state to benefit a narrow elite class—comprised of foreign stooges and domestic fundamentalist elements. These efforts are antithetical to the democratic values, secular spirit, and liberation ideals of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
We call upon all democratic, patriotic, and progressive forces—within Bangladesh and abroad—to remain vigilant and united in resisting these anti-people, anti-democratic maneuvers. The Bangladesh Students’ League stands firmly with the people in defense of the Constitution, the sovereignty of the Republic, and the legacy of our Liberation War.
