Former advisers to the interim government have strongly condemned the alleged harassment of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the former Chief Adviser, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. 

They described the incident as persistent online smear campaigns and targeted attacks against him.

"We express our unreserved outrage and strongest possible condemnation regarding the persistent harassment, online smear campaigns, and targeted attacks directed at former Chief Adviser, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus," they said in a statement issued today.

The statement was signed by Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Dr M. Fouzul Kabir Khan, C R Abrar, Dr Asif Nazrul, Adilur Rahman Khan, Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Choudhury, Brig Gen (retd) Dr Sakhawat Hussain, Faruk E Azam, Farida Akhter, Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

"When our nation stood on the precipice of total collapse, the interim government led by Professor Yunus did its best in addressing the Herculean task of rebuilding a nation shattered by years of unrestrained economic plunder, the collapse of democratic institutions, corruption, systemic tyranny and gross violations of human rights," the former advisers said.

The interim government, he said, had brought an end to practices such as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which they alleged had been regularly committed under the previous regime.

The statement said that the interim government handed over power in February 2026 to a government elected through a general election that the signatories described as free and fair. They expressed hope that efforts to rebuild democratic institutions, ensure justice for victims of the previous regime and protect human rights would continue.

The former advisers also expressed concern over what they described as persistent disinformation, malicious propaganda and physical threats against Professor Yunus by certain political groups and vested interests.

"We strongly condemn such cowardly tactics designed to create instability and undermine the credibility and wide acceptance of the interim government," they said.

Reaffirming their commitment to reform, the signatories declared that intimidation, falsehoods, online harassment and personal threats would not weaken their resolve to uphold the changes promised during the July uprising.

"The historic mandate of reform and dignity achieved by the people of Bangladesh through the enormous sacrifices of the youth cannot and will not be erased by malicious propaganda and attempts by supporters of the ousted regime," the statement added.