NCP demands dismissal of all New York consulate staff after attack on Akhter

It follows an alleged attack by Awami League supporters on political leaders accompanying the chief adviser on his visit to the UNGA

The National Citizen Party (NCP) Diaspora Alliance has condemned attacks on political leaders accompanying Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on his official visit to the United States and demanded the dismissal of all staff at the Bangladesh Consulate General in New York.

The group accused consulate officials of “neglect of duty” after Awami League supporters allegedly harassed members of Yunus’s delegation at John F Kennedy International Airport on Monday.

Six politicians, including NCP leaders Akhter Hossen and Tasnim Jara, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Jamaat-e-Islami deputy chief Abdullah Mohammad Taher, are accompanying the chief adviser to the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

After landing at John F Kennedy Airport in New York shortly after 3pm local time, Yunus and his entourage safely reached their hotel using diplomatic protocol.

His political companions, however, were not provided with any protocol and had to make their own way to their destination like regular passengers.

However, they were soon confronted by Awami League loyalists outside Terminal 4, as they shouted slogans labelling Yunus as the “leader of Jamaat-Shibir”. As Mirza Fakhrul and Humayun Kabir walked together towards the parking area, Awami League supporters branded them “enemies of Bangladesh” and blamed them for “killings, arson attacks and looting”.

Following them were Akhter and Tasnim, who appeared visibly uneasy amid the hostility.

The pair were stopped several times and subjected to abuse. Eggs were thrown, with some striking Akhter on the back and breaking.

Activists of the Awami League, whose activities are banned in Bangladesh, surrounded the group and shouted insults, calling them “militants, terrorists, and offspring of 1971 war collaborators”.

In a statement, the NCP Diaspora said: "We are expressing our deep concern and anger that Bangladeshi Awami League-affiliated miscreants have carried out a reprehensible attack on Akhter Hossen and Tasnim Jara, who are on an official visit to the United States with Muhammad Yunus."

“This incident is not only an expression of political violence but also an example of the extreme failure of the state's diplomatic integrity and security system.

"We question the justification for the existence of Bangladeshi consulates and embassies abroad if participants in an official state visit cannot receive a minimum level of security."

In response to the incident, the NCP raised three demands in the statement:

1. The Bangladesh government must file a direct complaint with the US federal government and the government and law-enforcing agencies of New York City.

2. The entire foreign service team, including the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York, must be immediately fired.

3. The highest level of security must be ensured for all visiting leaders for the remainder of the trip.

Later, Tasnim wrote on Facebook: "After arriving in the United States today, our party's Member Secretary Akhter Hossen was attacked. Eggs were thrown at him, and he was verbally abused."

"This was not an attack on Akhter Hossen as a person, but because of his political identity, because he represents the party that is constantly working to break the structure of fascism. This attack clearly shows how deep the fear and frustration of the defeated forces run. I am certain this attack will not weaken Akhter Hossen one iota, but will only strengthen his resolve."