Friends of Bangladesh

In early August 2024, opposition to an autocratic regime in Bangladesh grew to the point where the government collapsed, and the now former Prime Minister fled the country. Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was then appointed Chief Adviser to lead an Interim Government. In response to this changing landscape, what had been the Protect Yunus Campaign transformed into what is now called "Friends of Bangladesh," which is supporting positive outcomes in the world's eighth most populous country during this critical interim period. In so doing, we seek to advance the well-being of the people of Bangladesh. 

Friends of Bangladesh needs additional funding to continue its activities in five areas:

1. Provide timely analysis of the evolving situation in Bangladesh through our website, blog, webinars, and active social media channels (in part to combat disinformation circulating online about the current situation in the country).
2. Promote harmonious relations between Bangladesh and neighboring countries that have the ability to influence events there through strategic communications, online and in-person convenings, and effectively coordinating with allies and friends of Bangladesh.
3. Engage in a proactive media relations strategy, including the placement of op-eds and ensuring unbiased and fact-based coverage by influential regional media outlets that shape public opinion in the region and beyond.
4. Inform, mobilize, and grow the network of allies of Bangladesh around the world, including members of the Bangladeshi diaspora and others interested in seizing this historic moment for the nation to thrive.
5. Support the efforts of a private foundation set up by Professor Yunus to ensure appropriate assistance to an estimated 20,000 students and others who were injured during the July/August uprising by police and paramilitaries, and also to compensate the families of the 1,400 who were killed. The government has allocated $8.3 million to this foundation but that amount is nearly 100% expended, and the foundation is seeking private donations to support future activities and victim compensation. We have developed relationships with Myriad USA, Myriad Australia, and Transnational Giving Europe to allow for tax deductibility for donations from the United States, Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Gutenberg Communications, the digital marketing and public relations firm we have retained since January 2024, and the three part-time staff of Friends of Bangladesh, are all veterans of the Protect Yunus Campaign and have built up a high degree of trust with Professor Yunus, his team, and other civil society actors. The two co-directors—Sam Daley-Harris and Alex Counts—have been associated with Bangladesh and Professor Yunus since the 1980s. Friends of Bangladesh works closely with allies in Europe, India, Japan, South Korea, and beyond.

Friends of Bangladesh partners with Global Impact to ensure tax deductibility for all donations and intends to register as a tax-exempt entity in 2025, provided sufficient funding can be secured. 

For more information, contact Alex Counts, alexcounts09@gmail.com and +1-202-257-8739