CLAIM

Viral image of former Bangladesh interim leader Dr Muhammad Yunus leaving the country for the US

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search and a keyword search to trace the original source.

Multiple Indian users on social media platforms X and Facebook were sharing an image since February 18, 2026, of interim Bangladesh leader Dr Muhammad Yunus on a flight, claiming he had departed for the US after leaving the country in debt. However, the photo is old from 2024, when he arrived in the South Asian country.

On Feb 16, Dr Yunus stepped down from his position in a farewell broadcast to the nation and handed over the reins to an elected government. He had assumed the post of Bangladesh’s chief adviser after the ouster of the government of Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

He handed over power to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman, after a “landslide victory” in February elections.

HOW IT STARTED

On Feb 18, Northeast News Express, an Indian digital media outlet, shared an image on Facebook of Dr Yunus on a flight. The text inscribed on the photo read: “In a quiet early morning departure on Qatar Airways flight QR639 at 3:25am, Wednesday, Yunus reportedly left the country for the US — prompting critics to question whether the ‘profits’ travelled with him.”

Meanwhile, the caption of the post said, “Another ‘good man’ who came to sell mirrors in a blind land has departed. He achieved remarkable ‘progress’ — securing a waiver of his personal ₹600 crore in taxes and shifting the burden onto the people.

“Over 55 years, the total loan stood at ₹3 lakh crore. After Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge, Bangladesh’s debt reportedly surged to ₹23 lakh crore within just 18 months. One can only imagine the scale of profit taken back.”

“On Wednesday morning at 3:25 AM, he reportedly left for US on Qatar Airways flight QR 639,” it added.

The post gained about 1,400 likes and 207 shares.

The same photo and claim were shared by a Bharatiya Janata Party supporter on X, who has a verified account. His post racked up 314,900 views.

Indian digital news outlet Jaipur Dialogues, too, shared the image on X with the caption “puppet runs to master” and gathered 11,900 views.

Subsequently, the image was widely circulated on X, as can be seen here, here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the matter.

A keyword search was conducted to corroborate whether any credible Bangladeshi or international media outlets had reported Dr Yunus’ departure, but did not produce any results.

A reverse image search yielded a news report by The Guardian dated August 10, 2024, wherein an image of Dr Yunus was published. “Muhammad Yunus sits on a commercial plane after it has landed in Bangladesh on 8 August,” read the caption of the photo, which was credited to international wire news agency AFP.

In the photo, Dr Yunus can be seen wearing the same striped kurta and white sleeveless coat as in the viral image. His seat and cabin in the images are also the same.

Further investigation also led to a Facebook post by renowned Bangladesh businessman Sabur Khan, dated August 8, 2024.

“Alhamdulillah. During our flight to New Bangladesh today, we had a productive conversation with Dr Yunus about education, IT, and the current state of universities. He expressed his support for our endeavours. I mentioned that you’d be busy upon arrival, so this was a good opportunity to discuss these matters.

“Dr Yunus fondly recalled our 2006 initiative, Daffodil Grameen IT Education (DGITEL), which unfortunately ended in 2009 due to government pressure. I am hopeful and optimistic about his potential contributions to our beloved country. Our students and young generation are invaluable assets for our future, InShaaAllah,” he wrote in the caption.

Furthermore, the image was also published by Getty Images on August 8, 2024. “Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus sits on a commercial plane after touchdown in Bangladeshi soil after travelling to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, ahead of a press conference in Dhaka on August 8, 2024. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh on August 8 to lead a caretaker government after a student-led uprising ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina,” the caption reads.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral image shows former Bangladesh chief adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus departing for the US soon after the recent elections is false.

The photo is from August 2024, when he returned to Bangladesh following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES:

August 10, 2024, The Guardian report:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/10/bangladeshis-pm-flees-protesters-sheikh-hasina-muhammad-yunus#img-2

August 8, 2024, Facebook post:
https://www.facebook.com/sabur.khan/posts/alhamdulillah-during-our-flight-to-new-bangladesh-today-we-had-a-productive-conv/1070786331072350/

August 8, 2024, Getty Images:
https://www.gettyimages.com/editorial-images/news/event/nobel-laureate-yunus-arrives-in-bangladesh-to-lead-caretaker-government/776188013