'He will live in comfort in Europe or US': Taslima Nasreen says Muhammad Yunus belongs in jail, not abroad
Yunus, 84, has reportedly considered stepping down amid mounting pressure from political parties and growing unrest over stalled reforms. He took charge last August following a student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
- May 24, 2025,
- Updated May 24, 2025 10:19 AM IST
Controversial author Taslima Nasreen has launched a fiery attack on Muhammad Yunus, calling for the Nobel Peace laureate and Bangladesh’s interim leader to be jailed for what she claims are grave crimes committed during his time in power.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Yunus is going to resign and live the rest of his life in comfort in Europe or America,” Nasreen wrote on X. “Why should he be allowed to leave? He should be imprisoned.”
Yunus, 84, has reportedly considered stepping down amid mounting pressure from political parties and growing unrest over stalled reforms. He took charge last August following a student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
But Nasreen accused him of inciting jihadist mobs, engineering unrest, and handing over strategic assets to foreign powers. “As soon as he entered the country, he had five cases against him dismissed,” she alleged. “He incited jihadi militants and mobs to violence, spread hatred and malice to eliminate the opposition… So many have been harmed, so many lives lost!”
She claimed Yunus “has given birth to a generation that is frenzied, unstable, irrational, and intolerant,” and that he has jailed innocent people, orchestrated violence, and damaged Bangladesh’s foreign relations.
“Should he walk away free without facing any justice for all this?” she asked. “He must spend the rest of his life in prison. So many others have been sentenced to life for far less — why should he be spared?”
The comments come amid deepening uncertainty over Yunus’s future. Nahid Islam, a prominent student leader and head of the new National Citizen Party, said Yunus was “visibly upset” and may resign if reforms cannot move forward. “He feels trapped between demands from different political camps and growing public impatience,” Islam said.
Yunus has yet to publicly respond to the accusations or confirm any plans to step down.
Controversial author Taslima Nasreen has launched a fiery attack on Muhammad Yunus, calling for the Nobel Peace laureate and Bangladesh’s interim leader to be jailed for what she claims are grave crimes committed during his time in power.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Yunus is going to resign and live the rest of his life in comfort in Europe or America,” Nasreen wrote on X. “Why should he be allowed to leave? He should be imprisoned.”
Yunus, 84, has reportedly considered stepping down amid mounting pressure from political parties and growing unrest over stalled reforms. He took charge last August following a student-led uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
But Nasreen accused him of inciting jihadist mobs, engineering unrest, and handing over strategic assets to foreign powers. “As soon as he entered the country, he had five cases against him dismissed,” she alleged. “He incited jihadi militants and mobs to violence, spread hatred and malice to eliminate the opposition… So many have been harmed, so many lives lost!”
She claimed Yunus “has given birth to a generation that is frenzied, unstable, irrational, and intolerant,” and that he has jailed innocent people, orchestrated violence, and damaged Bangladesh’s foreign relations.
“Should he walk away free without facing any justice for all this?” she asked. “He must spend the rest of his life in prison. So many others have been sentenced to life for far less — why should he be spared?”
The comments come amid deepening uncertainty over Yunus’s future. Nahid Islam, a prominent student leader and head of the new National Citizen Party, said Yunus was “visibly upset” and may resign if reforms cannot move forward. “He feels trapped between demands from different political camps and growing public impatience,” Islam said.
Yunus has yet to publicly respond to the accusations or confirm any plans to step down.