Egg thrown at Akhtar Hossain in New York, one arrested
New York-based journalist Sanjeevan Sarkar told the BBC that New York police have already arrested a man in connection with the egg-throwing incident at Akhtar Hossain.
He said the name of the detained person is Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, and he is known to be an activist of the Awami League, whose activities are banned in Bangladesh.
Five leaders from three political parties accompanied Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government, to New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
Among them are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, foreign affairs advisor to the party's acting chairman Humayun Kabir, Jamaat Naib-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Md. Taher, NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, and NCP joint convener Tasnim Zara.
Meanwhile, Awami League workers and supporters protested outside the airport before the chief advisor and political leaders arrived in New York.
The beginning of the incident
A video of an egg being thrown at Akhtar Hossain has gone viral on social media.
It shows Akhtar Hossain crossing the road from the airport with his luggage. In front of him was NCP joint convener Tasneem Zara.
At that time, Awami League workers who had already gathered there targeted Akhtar Hossain and threw eggs at him.
The egg hit his back and burst.
Then a person present there was seen standing around Akhtar Hossain and taking him away.
It is reported that the remaining members of this group of political leaders had moved forward at the time of the incident.
Bangladeshi journalists in New York said that staff from the Bangladesh Embassy there were also present at the time.
Following the incident, police arrested a man in a raid in the Jackson Heights area of New York following a complaint from the embassy.
The man was initially arrested on charges of public disorder and aggressive behavior, police said.
Akhtar Hossain's reaction
After the incident, a video of Akhtar Hossain chanting anti-Awami League slogans with NCP leaders and activists present in New York went viral on social media.
At that time, Akhtar Hossain along with NCP workers chanted slogans like "We want justice for Sheikh Hasina", "We want justice for the genocide", "Inqilab Zindabad", "Mujibabad Murdabad".
Videos on social media show that while the NCP led by Akhtar is shouting these slogans, Awami League workers are standing on the other side of the road with banners and shouting slogans.
Akhtar Hossain then spoke to the journalists present there.
He said there, "We are the generation that did not bow down before Hasina's bullets. Broken eggs don't matter."
"This incident has once again proven that the Awami League is a terrorist organization."
Facebook status of NCP leaders
Thank you for staying with BBC Bangla. BBC Bangla's WhatsApp channel.
NCP joint convener Tasneem Zara wrote in a Facebook status, "Our party member secretary Akhtar Hossain was attacked after arriving in the United States today. Eggs were thrown at him and he was abused."
"This is not an attack on Akhtar Hussain as a person, but on his political identity. Because he represents the party that is constantly working to break the structure of fascism."
He also wrote, "This attack clearly shows how deep the fear and despair of the defeated powers are."
"I am sure this attack will not weaken Akhtar Hossain even a single bit, but will only strengthen his resolve."
NCP Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud wrote in a Facebook status, "NCP Central Member Secretary and former Social Service Secretary of DUCSU Akhtar Hossain Bhai has been attacked by the terrorist banned Awami League in New York, USA. This proves the bankruptcy of the banned Awami League."
"As a result of the mass uprising of the students and the public, the dictator and fascist Hasina and her cronies were forced to flee the country. Even after fleeing abroad, their conspiracies, plots and terrorist activities did not stop."
"I request all concerned to provide security to national leaders immediately. I also request the US government to arrest the terrorists who attacked and bring them to justice."
However, the NCP has not yet responded to the incident as a party.
Earlier, Awami League activists also harassed Mahfuz Alam, advisor to the interim government, with similar programs in Washington and London recently.
0 Comments: