A friend of Clintons, Bangladesh's Yunus faces dilemma as he congratulates Trump

Republican candidate Donald Trump’s victory has rattled several world leaders.

While most of the focus is on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran, a leader next-door is also rattled. He is Mohammed Yunus, the unelected leader of Bangladesh.

Yunus was propped by the populist and Islamist usurpers of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule along with the nation’s military in August. Observers of South Asia and commentators have alleged that the United States had a tacit nod to the regime change. The case is supported by the chummy engagement between the Joe Biden administration and the Yunus — a sharp contrast to the cold India-Bangladesh engagement.

Now that Yunus’ perceived benefactors in the United States are set to depart with Trump’s victory, the road for him is expected to be bumpy.

Yunus has already started trying to reach out to Trump, who is well-known to pander to personal praise and outreach. Yunus’ congratulatory message to Trump following his landslide victory in the US presidential election is in sharp contrast to his 2016 remarks.

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

From ’eclipse’ to ‘heartfelt felicitations’ — Yunus’ changed tune

As Yunus’s perceived benefactors are set to go out of power, Yunus has changed the tune.

In 2016, Yunus had said that Trump’s victory shattered him so much that he could barely speak or move around. He called the victory “a solar eclipse” and Trump’s term as “black days”.

“We must not allow this lapse into depression, we will overcome these dark clouds. HEC Paris is so important in this fightback, it has been supporting our efforts for years, and these two days here will inspire us again,” said Yunus.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Following Trump’s victory, however, Yunus said in a letter addressed to Trump that his second victory “reflects that your leadership and vision have resonated with the people of the United States of America”.

Yunus further said, “I am confident that under your stewardship, the United States will thrive and continue to inspire others around the world. Bangladesh and the United States share a long history of friendship and collaboration across numerous areas of mutual interest. The relationship continued to grow in depth and breadth during your previous term in the office. I look forward to working together to further strengthen our partnership and foster sustainable development.”

Yunus’ ties to Clintons & Democrats’ perceived hand in Bangladesh

Yunus has long been close to former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The ties have been central to yearslong speculation that the United States under Democratic governments pushed Yunus’ cause in Bangladesh, who had been at odds with Hasina for nearly a decade before her ouster.

The Sunday Guardian reported that leaders of Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and sources close to her believe that officials at the US Department of States were the “main protagonists” behind the regime change.

In 2017, Republican Senator Charles Grassley had accused the Clintons on interfering in Bangladesh’s affairs to benefit Yunus.

Grassley said that Hillary Clinton during the Barack Obama administration pressured Hasina’s government to close a corruption investigation into Yunus, who he alleged was a major donor to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).

Trump’s statement on Bangladesh

Trump slammed the violence against Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh on Diwali.

Trump “strongly condemned the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities” and said that such violence would not have happened if he were the President of the United States.

In an outreach to Hindus days ahead of the Election Day, Trump said, “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos. It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America.”

Under Yunus’ regime, wave of violence against Hindus and other minorities have enveloped Bangladesh. As Islamist groups control the nation via Yunus, who has released a number of Islamist leaders, the violence against Hindus and other minorities has continued unabated.