'India's specialty': Bangladesh's Yunus has a ‘fake news’ denial on anti-Hindu violence | Watch

Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus termed “fake news”, which he called “India's specialty”, reports of violence against minority Hindu community in his country

Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus has termed “fake news”, which he called “India's specialty”, reports of violence against the minority Hindu community in his country.

Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim government Muhammad Yunus gave an interview recently in which he spoke of Sheikh Hasina's possible return to face trial, among other issues.(Reuters)

The Nobel laureate economist was speaking in an interview with Mehdi Hasan of Zeteo, who noted: “Last November, around 30,000 Hindus in Bangladesh gathered to protest against your government, claiming there have been thousands of attacks on their community. (US President) Donald Trump called the violence in Bangladesh ‘barbaric’.”

He asked him what it would take to stop the violence.

“First of all these are fake news. You can't go by those fake news,” Yunus replied, further adding, “One of the specialty of India right now is fake news; barrage of fake news.”

When the interviewer asked him if he was saying the violence reports were exaggerated, or if there's no anti-Hindu violence at all.

He said there could be “some conflict sometimes, some family problem, land problem and something”.

“(If) you happen to be my neighbour. You are a Hindu neighbour, I'm a Muslim neighbour. We have problem with our land demarcation, just like two neighbours. So you say ‘this is Hindu-Muslim (issue)’ — that's not it,” he claimed.

He said the interim government — in place since Sheikh Hasina was deposed in violent public protests in 2024 — “is very alert” on this issue.

“Because, this is the one thing the India is always pushing,” he said.

When asked what his message to Hindu Bangladeshis would be, Yunus replied, “When I meet them as a community, I say that don't go back and say 'I'm a Hindu, so protect me'. Always say 'I'm an citizen of this country, I'm entitled to all the protection state is supposed to give to me'.”

He said that would give the Hindus more in common with “all the people who are deprived of rightful treatment from the State”.

“Don't isolate yourself,” he said, of the Hindus, during the 35-minute interview.

On India, he has underlined that the Modi government's decision to give sanctuary in exile to Hasina remains a sticking point in the relationship.

He asserted that elections would be held in another six months, meaning 18 months since the revolt.