Professor Yunus’ speech at the UN hit all the high notes -- he broadcast to the world about the student-led revolution, massive sacrifices involving fatalities, and the ongoing reformation movement. He squarely laid out the goals -- justice for those massacred during the uprising, repatriation of stolen national assets by the erstwhile government and its cronies, an equitable economy as well as a standard education system, and a nation where one can speak and vote freely.
An iconic photo was taken during his sideline meetings, when President Biden gave Chief Adviser Yunus a big hug. The President offered US support as Bangladesh undergoes its much-needed restructurings. Next, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the topmost US diplomat assured assistance in economic stability, and in conducting free, fair elections. Third, USAID Administrator Samantha Power pledged humanitarian assistance, with nearly $199 million for Rohingya refugees. Fourth, World Bank President Ajay Banga affirmed $3.5 billion in loans, which will go a long way to fund the energy sector that has been intentionally mismanaged by the previous regime.
Professor Yunus’ great storytelling abilities were illuminated during the Clinton Global Initiative, when he recognized the incredible role student coordinators played in toppling the tyrannical regime. Furthermore, at the “friends of Bangladesh” reception, he depicted the heroic sacrifice of student protestor Abu Sayeed, whose outstretched arms in the face of police firing became the defining image of the nation’s second liberation.
Americans in general do not know Bangladesh well, besides that their T-shirts come from there. Before the revolution, top-tier American newspapers would only sporadically cover this “poor, disaster-prone nation east of India.” However, post-revolution Bangladesh has received a burst of attention from elite media, think tanks, and policymakers in the US, partially due to the diligence of Bangladeshi-Americans advocating for the motherland. Right now, having Professor Yunus as Bangladesh’s leader does volumes in public relations building. He is not seen as your typical self-serving politician, but rather a nonprofit guru who emphasizes climate mitigation and fairness in entrepreneurship, music to the ears of liberal policymakers and the internationalist audience that tunes into United Nations events.
Professor Yunus has a way of showcasing Bangladesh’s values and struggles that resonates with the audience -- this quality was sorely missing among previous leaders I have actively listened to since the ’90s. He believes in a new Bangladesh, and with his international stature and connections with the Western world, funds and technical assistance will likely be more readily available to make this a reality.
Now, imagine an alternate reality: On August 5, the police and military fire upon all protestors gathered at the Prime Minister’s official residence to demand her resignation, leading to thousands of fatalities. Instead of fleeing to India, Sheikh Hasina maintains her grip on the nation as the security agencies are following her instructions. She defiantly arrives in New York City for the UN General Assembly, is greeted by throngs of Awami League supporters chanting her name in unison (the same ones who denounced Professor Yunus outside his hotel), and then gets on the UN podium to declare that she has successfully saved Bangladesh from Islamist terrorists seeking to destabilize the nation. Afterward, she receives a solid handshake and “attagirl” nod from Indian Prime Minister Modi, for a job well done and a long-term future of national subservience. This would have been a sickening, nightmare setting.
I know that many of us Bangladeshis living in the US would protest the mass murderer’s presence at the UN, as she is not a legitimate leader or human being for that matter. We would show documented atrocities by the Bangladeshi security forces to this international institution and world leaders as well as US congress members, pleading for help to stop the tyrant. However, how far would we be able to create change with our protests?
No matter what the challenges are faced by post-revolution Bangladesh, let’s never forget that a miracle has taken place, as the odds were not in favor of the student-led protestors. Even a reputed newsmagazine such as The Economist could not predict the revolution when the protests started, let alone other forecasters. The tyrant had the full backing of security forces, until the military leadership declared a halt to the massacre. Now, it is up to us, the Bangladeshi citizenry to ascertain that the days of authoritarianism, mass murders, and rampant corruption become a distant memory. If enough of us work diligently and honestly in this unified mission, I have hope that Bangladesh can truly become a reformed state, one that stands as a sovereign powerhouse in South Asia.
Tamim Choudhury is a Public Affairs Specialist at a Washington, DC-based international volunteer agency.