Yunus’ Iftar diplomacy: A new diplomatic hit
Yunus’s embrace of Islamic traditions during Guterres’s visit marks a direct challenge to Islamophobia on the world stage. Instead of assimilating into Western culture, Yunus made a Western leader adhere to Islamic identity through Iftar diplomacy
In an era where media narratives shape political realities, propaganda-driven diplomacy has emerged as a powerful tool. In Bangladesh and beyond, anti-July Uprising forces reportedly operate thousands of propaganda channels, spending millions each month to manipulate public perception.
A key objective of these efforts has been to delegitimise the current government, often by portraying it as an agent of Islamisation. Similarly, in neighbouring India, media coverage frequently reflects Islamophobic biases, marked by the strategic dissemination of misinformation, the reinforcement of anti-Muslim narratives, and a government stance that appears indifferent or even complicit in fueling such sentiments.
This aligns with the long-standing Western practice of megaphone diplomacy — the strategy of publicly criticising adversaries to shape global opinion rather than engaging in formal diplomatic negotiations. This effort significantly contributed to the persistence of Islamophobic sentiments worldwide.
Given this backdrop, a critical question arises: Despite sustained efforts to tarnish Dr Muhammad Yunus's reputation, to what extent can he counteract these narratives through a new and strategic approach — Iftar diplomacy?
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Several factors during UN Secretary-General António Guterres's Bangladesh visit may determine whether this initiative proves to be a strength or a weakness, including Yunus's adoption of Islamic cultural symbols such as wearing a panjabi and tupi, Guterres donning similar attire, Guterres' meetings with veiled Rohingya Muslim women, and his meeting with Islamic scholars in Dhaka.
Across social media and public chatting, this endeavour has mostly been marked as a direct challenge to Islamophobia. In an era where many Muslim leaders even hesitate to openly embrace their identity in global settings, Yunus spotlighted it confidently.
While many Muslims in positions of power try to assimilate by shedding religious symbols, Yunus did the opposite. He made a Western leader adopt an Islamic identity, even if temporarily, to show solidarity with the oppressed.
The symbolism was undeniable. Most importantly, the UN chief stood beside Yunus as he declared that Rohingya refugees should be able to return to their homeland and celebrate Eid in their own communities in the next Ramadan. No doubt, this message, amplified across 194 UN-recognised countries, reached audiences far and wide.
Although the UN chief acknowledged that the return of the Rohingya is currently extremely difficult, he emphasised the need to intensify humanitarian aid and to create conditions conducive to their successful repatriation.
For years, megaphone diplomacy has been instrumental in shaping global narratives, often portraying Muslims as security threats rather than victims.
This strategy has been evident in India, where particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tries to leverage anti-Muslim propaganda to justify aggressive policies and gain electoral dividend. While in the broader Western geopolitical landscape, Islamophobic narratives have been cultivated to maintain strategic dominance over the East.
In Bangladesh, forces opposing the July Uprising have deployed similar tactics, operating vast networks of propaganda channels aimed at discrediting the current government, frequently through accusations of Islamisation.
Despite accusations of Islamisation, the current government demonstrated a firm stance against 'extremism' on 7 March in Dhaka, as law enforcement employed batons, teargas, and sound grenades to disperse members of banned Hizb ut-Tahrir attempting to organise a March for Khilafat. This reinforced the administration's 'zero tolerance' policy toward extremist activities.
Moreover, the UN chief's engagement with veiled Rohingya Muslim women during his visit to a refugee camp serves as a powerful counter-challenge to Islamophobia which may open and promote dialogue and inclusivity between ideologies.
Apparently, Yunus's Iftar Diplomacy has disrupted this cycle, shifting the global conversation in an unprecedented way. Instead of engaging in defensive counter-narratives, Yunus proactively redefined the discourse — forcing global media to frame the Rohingya crisis not as a security issue but as a humanitarian emergency demanding justice.
This shift can be marked as a diplomatic breakthrough which weighs a significant diplomatic victory. Rather than seeking validation from Western policymakers, Yunus positioned himself at the centre of global attention — first through Guterres' visit while Bangladesh itself is going through multifaceted fragilities, and secondly, through potentially attracting global figures like Elon Musk.
This approach may challenge the long-standing assumption that influence on the world stage can only be achieved through compliance with Western narratives.
Bangladesh has undergone numerous elections and government transitions, yet systemic progress has remained elusive. Yunus's approach suggests that lasting change cannot be achieved through periodic elections alone — it requires a long-term governance blueprint that future administrations must uphold.
His vision extends beyond activism; he is laying the groundwork for national stability and economic transformation. While democratic processes must continue, Yunus's leadership illustrates that true governance is about institutionalising a vision so compelling that even elected leaders must adhere to it.
Through Iftar diplomacy, Dr Yunus has set a precedent in international relations. Instead of responding to megaphone diplomacy with counter-propaganda, he employed symbolism and strategic diplomacy to reshape the narrative.
By having Guterres don Islamic attire, meet with veiled Rohingya women, and engage with Islamic scholars in Dhaka, Yunus demonstrated the power of cultural confidence in diplomacy.
In a world where disinformation often dominates, Yunus has shown that a carefully orchestrated Iftar gathering can rival even the most entrenched propaganda machines. Whether this signals a new paradigm in global diplomacy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the world is watching, and the conversation is changing.
In conclusion, beyond diplomacy, Yunus has meaningfully focused on technical education and foreign investment to establish vocational training institutions, directly connecting Bangladeshi youth to high-paying job markets abroad.
By promoting skill-based economic mobility over political patronage, he has laid the groundwork for long-term economic stability. The Bangladeshi capital market is also showing resilience, with mid-cap companies emerging as potential blue-chip stocks. For instance, Global fund manager Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) forecasts a bullish outlook for Bangladesh's stock market in the latter half of 2025, driven by an improving economy.
Yet, despite such a development trajectory, the government must present a clear and operable roadmap for the next national election. Failing to do so promptly will only increase suspicions of its intent to extend its de facto rule, potentially sparking further larger scale political unrest.
Dr Sazzad Siddiqui is the Associate Professor for the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dhaka.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
