BNP leaders, activists, and expatriate Bangladeshis in the United States are not taking it lightly that the chief adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, left his five accompanying political leaders exposed at the airport and departed safely with his own protocol, creating feelings of anger and disappointment among them.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus landed at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York at 3:11pm local time on Monday aboard an Emirates flight, accompanied by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdullah Muhammad Taher, and other leaders.
The chief adviser left the airport earlier using government protocol, leaving the national leaders behind at the airport. Approximately one hour after his departure, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Acting Chairman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, and NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara exited the airport without any protocol.
While exiting through Terminal 8 of John F Kennedy International Airport, some Awami League activists hurled abusive language at the BNP Secretary General and the NCP leaders. They even threw eggs at NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen. Tasnim Jara was subjected to all kinds of indecent behaviour, including physical pushing. The BNP secretary general was not spared either.
Monday’s incident has generated negative reactions worldwide.
Regarding this incident, BNP leaders and activists blamed the Bangladesh government. They stated that six leaders from BNP and other political parties were invited to America as state guests, yet the government brought the national leaders to New York and left them to exit the airport without any protocol.
Consequently, they were humiliated by the Awami League. BNP leaders believe the government was negligent in this matter.
Foreign Affairs Adviser to the BNP’s acting chairman Humayun Kabir said during a briefing on Monday night that the consular office in New York failed to coordinate the matter properly, leading to this undesirable incident.
Badrul Alam Chowdhury Shipu, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s International Affairs Committee and President of California BNP, stated that despite having cadre officers and other officials at the Los Angeles and Florida consulates, they were not called to assist with the reception for the chief adviser and the arriving delegation.
While BNP and other party activists welcomed the guests, they could not provide a security perimeter like government officials, which is why the national leaders were humiliated and insulted.
Golam Faruq Shahin, a member of the BNP Chairperson’s International Affairs Committee, said that the national leaders were put in an embarrassing situation precisely because the Bangladesh government did not provide adequate security. The government brought them to America with false promises and then insulted them. The government must take responsibility for Monday’s incident.
Meanwhile, many activists claimed that failing to provide adequate security for the party’s secretary general was a failure of BNP. They believe there was also a lack of coordination between the central BNP leaders and the BNP leaders in the US. They mentioned that although at least 500 BNP leaders and activists were present at the airport, the national leaders still had to endure insults. While Jamaat managed to take their leaders away safely with protocol, BNP’s failure in this regard is absolute. Insulting the BNP Secretary General is equivalent to insulting the entire party and its millions of leaders and activists.
A BNP leader in the US, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We had been waiting at the airport since morning. But due to a lack of party coordination, this sad incident occurred today.”
Jubo League leader Mizanur arrested
Mizanur Rahman, the Jubo League leader who threw eggs and humiliated NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, has been arrested by New York Police.
He was arrested on Monday night local time in front of the Nabanna Restaurant in Jackson Heights. After questioning, he was handcuffed and taken into custody.
‘We are not afraid’
National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, speaking about the egg-throwing incident at the airport, said, “The Awami League terrorists have carried out such terrorist activities before. They have tried to attack previous advisers as well. We are also targets of Awami League attacks in the country. We are not afraid of this.”
He stated that he is also a target of Awami League attacks in Bangladesh but is not afraid.
He made these remarks while speaking with journalists at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan on Monday night, New York time.
Akhter said, “We believe the Awami League can commit terrorism against the people of Bangladesh. But in Bangladesh, people have not hesitated to sacrifice their lives with utmost courage against the Awami League before. In the days to come, the people of Bangladesh will remain united in resisting the Awami League. The Awami League will not be able to return with their terrorism to Bangladesh.”
Incident involving Akhter unfortunate: Press secy
The Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam has said that the egg-throwing incident targeting National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen is unfortunate.
He stated this while talking to journalists at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan on Monday night, local time.
