Muhammad Yunus is failing, there isn’t a minority in Bangladesh that does not feel under threat: Former USCIRF Commissioner Johnnie Moore

Johnnie Moore, former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has criticized the Bangladesh interim government regarding the plight of Hindus and other minorities in the country, stating, “there isn’t a minority in the country that doesn’t feel under threat right now,” and asserting that “Muhammad Yunus is failing.”

In a recent interview, Moore emphasized that it is the government’s primary responsibility to safeguard those who are vulnerable. He noted that this is an “existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country.”

Moore condemned the police arrest of priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, expressing that the widespread perception among minorities is, “if they’ll go after him, they’ll go after any of us.”

“Bangladesh isn’t just a Muslim country; it’s a Muslim-majority country that has many minorities. There isn’t a minority in the country that doesn’t feel under threat right now. That’s been globally evident in recent days as this high-profile arrest has taken place of not just a leader of the Hindu Bangladeshi community, but really a very serious religious figure. I want to be crystal clear, the global Christian community stands with the Hindu community in Bangladesh. It is the first responsibility of a government to protect those under threat. The religious minorities of Bangladesh are really feeling it now and they deserve our support,” he stated.

Moore lamented the current state of governance, saying, “we’re not sure who’s really doing this, but let me just say, the way I see it, Muhammad Yunus is failing. As the leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people.” He indicated that the failure to manage basic civil society needs, such as the protection of its citizens, reflects poorly on the leadership.

He expressed disbelief at the government’s response to recent events, noting, “If the rule of law becomes so inefficient that instead of getting due process, a lawyer is killed, this is unbelievable. I was astonished by the response of Mr. Yunus in the Bangladeshi government. They are saying this is exaggerated.” Moore articulated his concern over the severe implications of this inadequacy in governance.

Describing the troubling events in Bangladesh, he pointed out the alarming circumstances surrounding the Hindu priest’s arrest and subsequent legal context. “Moore said the visuals and reports from Bangladesh show how a Hindu priest was arrested and then denied bail by the local court. Then the lawyer defending the priest was killed amid protests outside the court where the lawyer was hacked to death by protesters, dragging him out of his chamber. It’s become a major rallying point in the country,” he said.

He reiterated the perils posed by the current government’s failure to ensure safety for its citizens. “As the leader of the country, as the interim leader of the country, there are no aspirations for the Bangladeshi people if you can’t manage a very, very simple component of civil society, which is you have to protect people. People have to be safe,” he stressed.

Moore also raised alarms regarding the Attorney General’s advocacy for the removal of the term ‘Secular’ from the constitution, amidst escalating violence against religious minorities. “Bangladesh should seek advice from countries like India and the United States, which have found ways to embrace pluralism amid religious diversity,” he suggested.

“You can’t make these promises and not keep them. They need to take what’s happening seriously and recognize the gravity of the situation,” he stated, further criticizing the government’s initial dismissal of these issues as overly dramatized.

“The statement that came officially from Muhammad Yunus and the government of Bangladesh was in response to it – they diminished it. That’s not what a leader does. A leader takes issues like this seriously… I’m afraid that this mistake could have other consequential effects. The good news is it’s not too late to fix it,” he opined.

Moore remarked that many countries in the world are utilizing the term democracy but are not implementing its true values. His critique of Muhammad Yunus, who assumed the role of interim leader of Bangladesh in August, highlights the pressing need for effective leadership that prioritizes citizen safety.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also voiced support for Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is facing sedition charges for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national flag. Moore concluded by emphasizing that the way the government addresses the ongoing crisis facing minorities in Bangladesh risks depriving the Bangladeshi people of beneficial ties with India, which he characterized as “an economic, technological and political powerhouse.”