‘Fake news from India’: Bangladesh’s Yunus denies attacks on Hindus after Hasina’s fall

Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has dismissed reports of communal violence against Hindus in the country following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government, calling them “fake news” generated by India.

In a recent interview with US journalist Mehdi Hasan, the Nobel laureate said, “One of the specialities of India right now is fake news — a barrage of fake news.” He claimed that no organised violence had taken place against the Hindu minority, describing any recent skirmishes as “normal conflicts” between neighbours over land and local disputes that “shouldn’t be painted communally.”

Yunus said his government remained vigilant against any communal unrest. “The government is very alert on that one because this is the one thing that India is always pushing — that we are bringing pressure,” he said.

His comments come amid persistent international reports and widespread social media posts alleging attacks on Hindus since Hasina’s exit from power last year. The controversy deepened when former US President Donald Trump reportedly called the Yunus government’s treatment of Hindus “barbaric.”

Questioning Trump’s remarks, Yunus retorted, “Whether Donald Trump ever said anything like that, whether he had any knowledge of what’s happening in Bangladesh right now…”

In November, thousands of Hindus took to the streets of Dhaka, demanding protection and the withdrawal of sedition charges against Hindu leaders, including monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, whose arrest had sparked protests across the border in India.

Appealing for unity, Yunus urged Hindus in Bangladesh to identify first as citizens rather than members of a religious group. “My message to them is — don’t go back and say, I’m a Hindu, so protect me. Always say I am a citizen of this country. I’m entitled to all the protection the state is supposed to give me. That gives you a bigger coverage,” he said.