Awami League activists stage protests, throw eggs near Hasnat’s London meeting venue

Supporters and opponents trade slogans outside a Whitechapel hall as tensions escalate through the evening

Awami League activists in the UK have staged protests around a venue in East London where National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and MP Hasnat Abdullah was scheduled to attend a meeting. Activists of the party, whose activities are banned, threw eggs at the visiting NCP leader.

The UK branch of the NCP had called the event at a banquet hall behind the East London Mosque in Whitechapel, with Hasnat expected to join.

However, news of his possible arrival triggered protests by expatriate Awami League supporters and affiliated groups, who gathered in the area.

The meeting was due to begin at 6pm local time, but Hasnat eventually arrived around 9pm.

Under the protection of several dozen police personnel, he tried to enter the venue through a side door. The protesting Awami League activists then threw eggs at him as he ran inside, with police then bringing the situation outside under control.

In a video published on the NCP UK’s Facebook page, Hasnat is seen holding up an egg.

In the video, he says: “There are leagues in many places who are on the run themselves, who are in hiding themselves, but tell others - ‘You will not find any place to run’.

“I dedicate this egg to these leaguers who are running away across the world. I have a raw egg in my hand right now... I don’t know whether it will remain raw or be cooked.”

Earlier in the afternoon local time, Awami League’s UK unit activists reportedly chased and threw eggs at Hasnat near Elm Park in East London.

The NCP leader is currently in London to attend a seminar reflecting on the July student movement.

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Vice-President Abu Shadik Kayem is accompanying him.

While retaliatory demonstrations between Bangladeshi political groups have occurred in the UK on different occasions in the past, expatriate political leaders noted that such intense protests surrounding a meeting involving a public representative are highly unusual.

When a UK Awami League activist was questioned as to why they were protesting against Hasnat given that he holds no official position in the government, the leader said they do not consider him a member of parliament, but rather look upon him as a “terrorist”.