Awami League-BNP counterattack in New York around the Prime Minister’s arrival

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is in the United States to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. At 10:42 pm on 17 September, a British Airways flight (BA 1593) carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The Prime Minister was welcomed at the New York airport by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Muhammad Abdul Muhith and the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States Muhammad Imran. Later, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was taken in a motorcade to an elite hotel in Manhattan.

He will address the 78th session on September 22.
Meanwhile, before Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s arrival at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, like every year, US Awami League and BNP leaders and activists stood face-to-face outside Terminal 4. The whole terminal area became loud with various slogans for and against the joy and protest rally. When the special flight carrying the Prime Minister landed, the activists raised different slogans for and against outside. Leaders and activists of the United States Awami League and its affiliates gathered at JFK Airport from Sunday evening to welcome the Prime Minister. They started giving various slogans. On the other side of the terminal, the United States BNP and other organizations staged a protest. However, as the deadline was fixed till 8 pm, the leaders and activists of both the parties left the parking lot of Terminal 4 on time on the instructions of the airport authorities.

There was a police order to stop all activities till 8 pm.

However, apart from the airport, the two teams faced each other in Jackson Heights. Slogan-counter-slogan tension spread throughout the area. BNP protested against Sheikh Hasina’s visit demanding fair elections and democracy. And Awami League organized a welcome procession with various programs including general welcome to the Prime Minister. Panic spread in the area due to the violent commotion of the leaders and workers of the two parties. New York police intervened between the two sides to bring the situation under control. Locals including Bangladeshi businessmen got scared.