President\\\'s reception cancelled

A reception for President Abdul Hamid, who is now in the United States, has been cancelled after allegation of Jamaat-e-Islami's involvement in the reception committee surfaced. The reception was organised at La Guardia Airport Marriott Hotel in New York City on Tuesday evening (NY time). Warring factions of the Awami League (AL)'s US chapter are trading charges for the cancellation of the event at the eleventh hour on pretext of security concerns. AL US unit president Siddikur Rahman said Bangladeshi expatriates missed the opportunity to hear the president speak at the reception and blamed it on a 'conspiracy.' He said the reception committee had representatives of AL, BNP, Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. AL and its affiliates in the US organised a joint news conference on June 17 and alleged there were Jamaat activists in the committee. However, Rahman claimed they had tried to set up an example of inclusive political culture by including representatives from all parties in the committee. Another reception, organised by Bangladeshi expatriates hailing from President Hamid's home district Kishoreganj, would be held on June 19. The president reached New York from Bolivia on June 16. He was to address two receptions during his stay there. The president will meet UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon on June 19. He will return home on June 22, according to bdnews24.com.