BNP activists frustrated for failing to meet PM in NY 

After a long 20 years, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s visit to the United States generated widespread enthusiasm among expatriate BNP leaders and activists. Despite the absence of a party committee for a long period, a lack of organizational assessment and various other limitations, a large number of leaders and activists from different states across the United States gathered in New York in the hope of seeing their party chief at least once and conveying their greetings. However, allegations of chaos and mismanagement at the meeting eventually prevented a large section of them from meeting the prime minister. Leaders of BNP units in different states expressed anger and frustration over the incident.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. His visit generated considerable enthusiasm among BNP leaders and activists at various levels across the United States. Many came to New York from distant states at their own expense and waited for an opportunity to meet the prime minister.

An initiative had been taken to organize a civic reception in honor of the prime minister, but it was ultimately not held. Later, a meeting with leaders and activists was arranged at the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, where the prime minister was staying, from 2pm on Friday. However, the presence of a large number of leaders and activists and security-related restrictions created a chaotic situation. Eventually, only a limited number of leaders and activists were allowed to meet the prime minister, while many others could not even enter the hotel.

Eyewitnesses said many leaders and activists expressed anger after waiting for a long time without getting an opportunity to meet the prime minister. At one point, a commotion broke out in the hotel lobby. Members of the New York City Police Department and the Secret Service formed a security cordon to control the situation. For security reasons, the prime minister was taken away from the area within a short time.

Leaders of BNP units in different states blamed the organizers' lack of coordination and mismanagement for the situation. They alleged that arrangements for meeting the leaders and activists should have been coordinated in an orderly manner in advance during such an important visit. Some also questioned the role of several leaders at the central level of the US BNP.

Florida BNP President and freedom fighter Imranul Haque Chakladar said he had come to New York with 15 members of his committee to meet the prime minister. Some of them had been staying at the same hotel for three to four days. He said, "We came from hundreds of miles away to see the prime minister at least once. But despite being a state BNP president, I did not get the opportunity to meet him. We returned to Florida with extremely heavy hearts."

Habibur Rahman Selim Reza, president of the New York Metropolitan South BNP, said BNP leaders and activists had been involved in movements and struggles against the Awami League government in the United States for a long time. Their enthusiasm had grown considerably around Tarique Rahman's visit. But ultimately, a large number of BNP leaders and activists from different levels in New York could not meet the prime minister.

He alleged, "Many important leaders, including state BNP presidents and secretaries, were standing outside. Yet only a small number of people were given the opportunity to go inside and meet him." He expressed the expectation that those responsible for the incident would be identified and organizational action would be taken against them.