New York police have detained Jubo League activist Mizanur Rahman after he allegedly threw eggs at National Citizen Party (NCP) member-secretary Akhtar Hossain at John F. Kennedy International Airport. He also faces accusations of attempting to stab a BNP supporter.
Akhtar Hossain had arrived in New York as part of the entourage accompanying Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to attend the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
Eyewitness Sulaiman Haque said a BNP supporter complained to police that Mizanur tried to attack him with a knife. Police subsequently detained Mizanur Rahman.
Following the protests, Awami League supporters were celebrating in the evening. At around 9:30 p.m. on September 22, police arrested Mizanur Rahman from Bangladesh Street in Jackson Heights. He is scheduled to be produced in court tomorrow.
After his arrest, Mizanur Rahman shouted “Joy Bangla” slogans, joined by Awami League supporters present at the scene. NYPD sources confirmed he will spend the night in custody and appear before a court the next day.
According to eyewitnesses, the egg attack took place at around 5 pm on September 22 at JFK Airport’s Terminal 4, when Akhtar Hossain was exiting the terminal. Mizanur Rahman, identified as a Jubo League activist, allegedly threw the eggs. Awami League leaders and supporters were also present.
Akhtar Hossain was accompanied by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and NCP Senior Joint Member-Secretary Tasnim Jara. Local Awami League activists reportedly hurled insults at Tasnim Jara and staged a protest at the airport.
Professor Yunus’s delegation is staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. The US Awami League had secured permission to hold demonstrations there. Later that evening, Awami League and NCP supporters staged rival protests, chanting slogans from opposite sides of the street. Akhtar Hossain has since called for accountability for the Awami League leaders and supporters involved in the incident.
