The National Citizen Party (NCP) has demanded the resignation of Bangladesh’s Consul General in New York, accusing him of failing to prevent an alleged attack by Awami League supporters on its leaders.
At an emergency press conference in Dhaka on Tuesday, NCP Convener Nahid Islam claimed that “some officials of the diplomatic mission may have been involved” in the incident.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus arrived in New York on Monday with a delegation of five leaders from three political parties to attend the UN General Assembly. Two of them were NCP leaders — Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara.
While Yunus exited the airport through a special gate under tight security, leaders of the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP accompanying him were reportedly confronted by Awami League supporters as they came out with general passengers. According to NCP, demonstrators hurled slogans and insults, and even threw eggs at Akhtar Hossain.
In protest, NCP announced a demonstration in Shahbagh, Dhaka, at 4 p.m. on Tuesday under the banner of its Dhaka North and South units. Nahid Islam also called for simultaneous demonstrations across all districts and metropolitan areas.
The NCP convener placed a series of demands before the government:
Identify and arrest all attackers involved in the New York incident immediately.
Secure the immediate resignation of Bangladesh’s Consul General in New York.
Conduct a full investigation and take punitive action against officials who failed to provide security.
Remove “Awami League loyalists appointed during the fascist era” from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Publish the names of the five individuals arrested over the August attack on Adviser Mahfuz Alam.
Ensure transparent and expedited trials of the “July massacre” and hold the Awami League accountable as a party.
Nahid Islam said the NCP would meet the Foreign Affairs Adviser to seek accountability over repeated incidents of violence abroad. “We are witnessing repeated controversies over appointments made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have yet to receive a clear explanation why individuals appointed during the fascist era remain in place,” he said.
“We will present our demands to the Foreign Affairs Adviser and ask why our embassies abroad are failing to protect political leaders and stop fascist Awami League activities,” Nahid added.
