Bangladeshi-American leader condemns Trump’s statement on Bangladesh, calls allegations “baseless”

Prominent Bangladeshi-American activist Kausar Mumin has issued a strong rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s recent social media statement alleging minority persecution in Bangladesh, dismissing the claim as “baseless.”

Trump’s post, made at 1:00 PM on October 31, has ignited a backlash among the Bangladeshi diaspora, with Mumin asserting that the allegation is unfounded and politically motivated.

“On behalf of Bangladeshi-Americans, I, Kausar Mumin, firmly protest this statement,” Mumin declared, criticizing Trump’s “record of misinformation” on global affairs. “Americans are, frankly, sick and tired of [Trump’s] baseless claim today about minority persecution in Bangladesh,” he added.

Mumin emphasized that Bangladesh is experiencing unprecedented levels of political, civil, and religious freedom, following what he described as a “successful democratic revolution.” He suggested that members of the U.S.-based Hindutva lobby, with ties to Trump’s campaign, may have influenced the former president to make these allegations for electoral gains.

Reflecting on recent events in Bangladesh, Mumin pointed to the sacrifices of young citizens who stood against a “15-year undemocratic rule.” “Just this past August, hundreds of thousands of unarmed students sacrificed their lives to help overthrow a government that had ruled undemocratically for over a decade and a half,” he stated, calling the movement a “textbook example of democratic activism.”

Mumin concluded that while he doesn’t expect Trump to retract his statement, he believes the incident highlights the influence of lobbying on U.S. foreign policy positions. He expressed frustration that Trump’s administration had offered “little to no support” for Bangladesh’s pro-democracy movement and called for more accurate representation of Bangladesh’s evolving democratic landscape.