UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently visited Bangladesh. He primarily focused on the Rohingya crisis. However, rising tensions and accusations against Dr. Muhammad Yunus’ interim government have overshadowed his visit. The country’s democratic integrity is under question. There are also allegations of minority oppression. The visit has prompted calls for international intervention and scrutiny.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres made an official visit to Bangladesh from March 13 to 16. He was invited by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The visit primarily focused on the Rohingya refugee crisis. Dr. Yunus used the occasion to showcase how Bangladesh is evolving under his administration.
The visit also came amid controversy. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk admitted to the BBC that he had personally warned the Bangladeshi military. He advised them against intervening in the violent unrest of July 2024. He allegedly leveraged the UN peacekeeping mission as a threat.
During his trip, Guterres stated that the UN is considering a humanitarian aid corridor from Bangladesh to Myanmar. This corridor aims to create conditions for Rohingya refugees to return home. He stressed the importance of intensifying humanitarian aid efforts within Myanmar to facilitate a safe and sustainable repatriation process.
The Secretary-General visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and held discussions with Dr. Yunus and Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. However, journalists were restricted from asking questions during his joint press conference with the Foreign Adviser. Guterres condemned recent reductions in humanitarian aid by the United States and European nations, calling these cuts a “crime.”
Benar News report on UN humanitarian corridor
Interview with Anisur Rahman
1. What is your take on the UN Secretary-General’s visit to Bangladesh?
Anisur Rahman: The UN chief’s visit served as a call for the international community to support refugees. It also urged them to provide aid. This is necessary to prevent a financial crisis from escalating into a humanitarian catastrophe. However, the UN has failed to play a meaningful role in global conflicts for decades. It has become more of a global charity organization than a political force.
Look at its record in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Kashmir, and Palestine. Has the UN been able to return a single Rohingya refugee to Myanmar since the crisis became global news in 2017? Over the years, an additional 60,000 refugees have entered Bangladesh, which is already hosting over a million displaced Rohingya.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus used the visit as a public relations opportunity, posing for photos with Guterres to boost his legitimacy. The UN visit provided some temporary comfort to Yunus, but it did not address Bangladesh’s deeper political and humanitarian issues.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) acknowledges that Bangladesh is facing a dangerous period. This time is marked by government-authorized violence, persecution, and suppression of free speech. Ethnic and religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, face harassment. Minority Muslim groups such as the Shia face eviction and even killings. Secular cultural and historic sites are being destroyed.
The UN should have used this visit to engage with political stakeholders from all sides. They needed to assess the reality of the situation in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
2. Are there any discussions planned to address Bangladesh’s political and social crises?
Anisur Rahman: The Yunus administration provided Guterres with a curated narrative to justify its rule. The UN Secretary-General would have gained a more comprehensive perspective by meeting with major political parties. These parties include the BNP, the Jatiyo Party, or even the Awami League. The priority should be ensuring an early, free, and fair election to restore democracy in Bangladesh.
3. How is the Rohingya crisis being handled by the Yunus administration?
Anisur Rahman: The Yunus administration has claimed it maintains contact with the Myanmar military. It also communicates with the Arakan Army, which controls the Myanmar side of the border. However, Yunus is aligned with Islamist politics, particularly with Jamaat-e-Islami. There is concern that the prolonged refugee situation could lead to radicalization. This government does not seem capable of resolving the Rohingya issue or repatriating refugees. Their main objective is to maintain power and suppress opposition.
4. Why has the Yunus administration failed to protect minority communities?
Anisur Rahman: The Yunus administration is a product of Jamaat-e-Islami’s political strategy and extremism. Protecting minorities and upholding secular values are not part of its agenda. The government has released criminals and Islamist extremists from prison, who are now using looted weapons from police stations. Some factions within the administration are actively sponsoring criminal activities.
5. Amartya Sen has praised Yunus but expressed concerns about Bangladesh. What is your view?
Anisur Rahman: Professor Amartya Sen is a respected intellectual, and it is natural for him to support his friend, Dr. Yunus. However, his praise does not reflect the grim reality in Bangladesh. The country is at risk under Yunus’s leadership. A transitional caretaker government should be installed as soon as possible to oversee free and fair elections.
Watch the full discussion on YouTube
6. How do you see India-Bangladesh relations evolving?
Anisur Rahman: The relationship is becoming unpredictable. Bangladesh’s economic dependence on India is growing as local production declines. Meanwhile, Bangladesh and India recently held joint naval exercises in the Bay of Bengal.
However, India has reasons for concern. Pakistani influence in Bangladesh has increased significantly, and signs of Talibanization are emerging. While India’s trade interests may benefit in the short term, a politically unstable and Islamist-leaning Bangladesh will pose long-term challenges.
Yunus is also strengthening ties with China. He is planning a visit from March 26-29. He will attend the Boao Forum and meet President Xi Jinping. This will inevitably impact India-Bangladesh relations.
7. Can the UN effectively intervene in Bangladesh?
Anisur Rahman: The UN has largely become a global NGO rather than a decisive political entity. Its human rights commission produced a biased report in favor of the unconstitutional Yunus regime.
Volker Türk admitted on the BBC. He personally warned the Bangladeshi army not to intervene during the July 2024 crisis. This was a clear violation of Bangladesh’s sovereignty and the UN Charter.
Guterres should establish an independent investigation into Türk’s potential involvement in an orchestrated attempt to topple the previously elected government. The UN must also demand that the unconstitutional Yunus regime hold fair elections immediately. It should stop the creeping Talibanization of Bangladesh.