NCP demands punishment to officials for failing to provide security to Akhtar

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has demanded exemplary punishment for the officials responsible for failing to provide security to political figures and July heroes in the US.

The party convener Nahid made the demand in response to harassment of Akhtar Hossain at an emergency press conference at its central office in the capital on Tuesday.

Akhtar Hossain was egged at New York airport upon arriving with Chief Adviser to attend the 80th UN general assembly.

As they exited the airport, Awami League supporters present there assaulted them, insulted Akhtar and NCP senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara and hurled abuse at them.

Nahid said the Awami League has systematically targeted the leaders of the July mass uprising both in the country and abroad. The attempted killing during the July march in Gopalganj, the attempt to attack adviser Mahfuz Alam abroad and the recent incident at the New York airport are not isolated events.

"These are the continuation of the Awami League's fascist activities," he added.

Alleging that the government and the Foreign Ministry have failed to provide security to political leaders, Nahid Islam claimed that those attacks are being carried our with the support of a section within the administration.

He demanded that the fascist accomplices at all levels of the government be removed and brought to justice.

Several demands were made at the press conference, including the resignation of the Consul General in New York. All individuals who attacked Akhtar Hossain in the US must be identified and arrested immediately.

The Consul General in New York must resign and punitive action must be taken against the officials who failed to provide security following a full investigation of the incident.

The Awami League accomplices appointed during the fascist era must be removed from the Foreign Ministry. The names of five individuals arrested for attacking Adviser Mahfuz Alam must be made public. The trial of the July massacre must be conducted transparently and expedited.

The demand also called for ensuring trial of Awami League as a terrorist party.

Stating that the trial of the Awami League as a party has not yet begun in the International Crimes Tribunal, Nahid said, "We will appeal to the tribunal and urge the government to take the necessary initiatives.

NCP supporters in the US were misinformed about which gate they would come out from the airport, said Nahid, adding that "They were told that they (Akhtar and Zara) would exit through another gate."

Those responsible for the protocol and security were behind this, he alleged.

The NCP also held protest marches in the city and across the country to protest the attack on Akhtar Hossain.

Meanwhile, the interim government expressed sorrow over the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with National Citizen's Party (NCP) leaders Akhter Hossen and Tasnim Zara, were subjected to a targeted and politically motivated assault.

It added that he attack was allegedly carried out by affiliates and supporters of the ousted autocrat, Sheikh Hasina.

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