Dr. Yunus Granted Special Security in the US on PM’s Directives
Following the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, former Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government and Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus is receiving enhanced security and special protocol during his stay in the United States. In addition to the standard protocol accorded to a former head of government, extra security measures have been arranged to ensure his complete safety throughout the visit. The arrangement was officially confirmed by Golam Mortoza, Press Minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The decision was prompted by an incident on Monday, where Dr. Yunus faced harassment by a group of individuals at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Video footage of the disturbance quickly went viral across social media platforms, sparking widespread condemnation both at home and abroad. Acting swiftly, PM Tarique Rahman instructed the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and the Consulate in New York, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately reinforce the Nobel laureate’s security detail.
Meanwhile, the Government of Bangladesh strongly condemned the airport incident, attributing the harassment to members of the Awami League, an organization whose political activities are banned in Bangladesh. Highlighting Dr. Yunus’s global standing as the country’s sole Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement emphasizing that such incidents of harassment targeting a revered figure like him abroad must not recur. The ministry further called for strict, appropriate action against those responsible to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Following instructions from foreign ministry officials, the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington officially reported the matter to the United States Department of State. Simultaneously, the Bangladesh Consulate in New York contacted local law enforcement agencies and submitted a formal written complaint to the Port Authority Police Department at JFK Airport. Embassy officials and consular staff are currently in close communication with local law enforcement, awaiting further updates regarding the investigation and legal action against the perpetrators.
