Staff Reporter: Leaders and activists of the two major political parties spent last week in extreme anxiety over the arrival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York to attend the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. The Jackson Heights area, known as the business hub of Bangladeshis, was abuzz with clashes between Awami League-BNP leaders and activists, including two groups of New York expatriate Awami League members. The Jackson Heights area was abuzz with various gatherings from afternoon to midnight. Expatriates are analyzing various trials as to why the BNP fled from Diversity Plaza by folding the banner for fear of Awami League.
At around 8:30 pm on Saturday (September 18), about 10/15 New York State BNP activists, including BNP leaders Gias Ahmed, Maulana Waliullah Atikullah and Golam Farooq Shahin, held a rally at the Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights as part of a protest program. On the other hand, the leaders and activists of the United States Awami League, who took a stand, tried to stop them for the purpose of disrupting their assembly. A number of leaders and activists led by Siddiqur Rahman, former president of the United States Awami League, rushed to the BNP rally chanting ‘Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu’. Both teams took a face-to-face position. The argument started. Instantly the situation became cloudy. The number of Awami League leaders and activists was more than double that of BNP leaders and activists. So they failed to protest and were forced to roll up their banners. But on the same day, a section of the BNP was holding a press conference at the Eatzy Chinise Restaurent. Upon receiving the news, BNP leader Zillur Rahman Jilu, Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan Milton, Juba Dal president Zakir H Chowdhury and BNP leader Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan and many others rushed to the Diversity Plaza. It is learned that they rolled up their banners and left the scene. Expatriate Bangladeshis in New York have commented that this incident is a big defeat for the United States BNP. It is learned that BNP leader Gias Ahmed, Maulana Waliullah Atikullah and Golam Farooq Shahin and others left the scene before the adequate number of BNP workers arrived.
Expatriate Bangladeshis in New York have commented that this incident is a big defeat for the United States BNP.
According to the conscious expatriates, the expatriates are of the opinion that the hard-working movement of the BNP would have been somewhat successful if all the leaders and activists of the United States had come together and resisted the Awami League and held a peaceful rally before leaving the scene.
In this case, they are thinking that the BNP will be defeated by the Awami League.
On the same day, the New York Metropolitan Awami League set up a temporary office at 73 Street, while the United States BNP set up a temporary office at 37 Avenue nearby. But there was a problem with the establishment of BNP office. When the supporters of the United States Awami League prevented the establishment of the office, a fierce fight started. Clashes broke out between Awami League and BNP supporters at 73rd Street and 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights around 10pm on Saturday (September 18). The clashes between the two sides continued for a long time. Several people on both sides were injured at the time. New York police took a stand between the two sides to bring the situation under control. The tension between the Awami League and BNP supporters lasted for about an hour. The situation calmed down after the police forced the two sides to leave the area.
BP/SM
