Social media platforms have recently seen an uptick in a curious and seemingly contradictory campaign – largely fueled by supporters of the ruling Awami League – portraying Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus as the new “savior” of Muslims in Bangladesh. This sudden transformation of Yunus into a hero for Islamic groups has raised eyebrows, especially considering his and his daughter Monica Yunus’s long-standing ties to LGBTQ activism and advocacy.

Despite Yunus’s decades-long involvement in promoting and funding LGBTQ causes globally, a growing segment of Islamic leaders in Bangladesh now view him favorably, even as Awami League-affiliated voices try to weaponize his association with LGBTQ causes against him. This contradictory narrative exposes the fragile and often opportunistic dynamics of Bangladeshi politics, where ideological lines can be redrawn overnight.

At the center of this controversy is ‘Sing for Hope’, a New York-based non-profit founded in 2006 – the same year Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize. Yunus and his daughter Monica are credited as co-founders of the organization, which is well-known for celebrating LGBTQ “Pride” annually and collaborating with globally recognized LGBTQ advocacy groups.

‘Sing for Hope’ is supported by numerous prominent institutions, including the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Department of Education, and various private foundations such as the Beatrice and Reymont Paul Foundation and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. It is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization (EIN 01-0856384), and Muhammad Yunus remains an active founding board member, making........

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