US Awami League Holds Protest Outside UN Headquarters in New York

NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT: The US Awami League, Awami family members, and affiliated and associate organizations held a protest rally outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday, September 24, protesting the ban on all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League, death sentences against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior party leaders, and what they described as moves to hand over Saint Martin’s Island, ports and transit corridors to foreign interests.

The rally was held at noon outside the UN headquarters, with Awami League leaders and activists arriving from different states across the United States. Participants included leaders and activists from the US Awami League, US Jubo League, US Mohila League, US Chhatra League, US Sramik League, US Swechhasebak League, Michigan Awami League, Virginia State Awami League, Metro Washington Awami League, Maryland State Awami League, New York State Awami League, New York City Awami League, US Awami League South, US Awami League East, US Awami League West, and the organization Amra Mujib Sainik, among others.

The protesters chanted a range of slogans, including “Go Back Tarique,” “Terrorist Tarique,” “Khamba Tarique,” “No gas, no electricity—this government is not needed,” “No food, no clothing—this government is not needed,” “There are poles, but no electricity—this government is not needed,” “Police killer Tarique—go back, go back,” and “Grenade Tarique—go back, go back.”

Addressing the rally, speakers said the Awami League played a leading role in the establishment of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country. They alleged that banning the party’s political activities undermines the values, ideals and spirit of the country’s Liberation War. The speakers called for the immediate withdrawal of the ban, arguing that it would create political space for what they described as anti-liberation and extremist forces.

They also criticized the government over the country’s economic and social situation, citing rising prices, shortages of gas and electricity, problems in the education sector and what they described as a growing “mob culture.” They also alleged that Awami League leaders and activists were being killed and harassed.

The speakers made a number of allegations against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. They questioned government decisions concerning aircraft purchases, arguing that greater attention should first be given to essential services and economic challenges inside Bangladesh.

Describing the situation in Bangladesh as a “major crisis,” the speakers alleged that domestic and foreign actors were conspiring over the country’s political and economic future. They claimed that factories and garment industries were facing difficulties and that the country’s production system was being adversely affected.

The speakers also raised concerns about child safety, public health and law and order, alleging that the government was not giving sufficient attention to these issues and was using political retaliation against its opponents.

Speakers further said that banning the Awami League would not end the party’s political existence. Referring to the party’s history, they said the Awami League had returned to politics after facing previous periods of political adversity and expressed confidence that it would again return as a stronger political force.

They also claimed that the ban had left people in Bangladesh and members of the diaspora shocked and angry. Some speakers described the current government as a “black government,” a characterization made by the speakers at the rally.

Among those attending the protest were US Awami League President Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad, adviser Masudul Hasan, former BAKSU General Secretary and freedom fighter Dr. Pradip Ranjan Kar, Organizing Secretary Abul Hasib Mamun, former General Secretary Shamim Chowdhury, founding General Secretary of the US Awami League and mainstream political figure M.A. Salam, journalist Hakikul Islam Khokon, Ramesh Nath, Organizing Secretary Mohiuddin Dewan, freedom fighter Shawkat Akbar Ritchie, Legal Affairs Secretary Advocate Shah Md. Bokhtiar Ali, Education Affairs Secretary M.A. Karim Jahangir, and Dr. Masudul Hasan, president of the US chapter of Sheikh Kamal Parishad.

Also present were Awami League leader and Sheikh Hasina Mancha President freedom fighter Jalal Uddin Jalil, Organizing Secretary Sheikh Selim, Executive Member Shahanara Rahman, Awami League leader and former Union Parishad Chairman Iqbal Hossain, Awami League leaders Akhtar Hossain and Ali Hossain Ghaznavi, among others.

New York State Awami League President and freedom fighter Mujibur Rahman Mia, Vice Presidents Sheikh Atikul Islam and Abul Kashem Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Awami League Foundation Chairman Abdul Kader Mia, New York City Awami League President Rafiqul Rahman Rafiq and General Secretary Emdad Chowdhury also attended.

Others included Connecticut State Awami League General Secretary Humayun Ahmed Chowdhury, Mohila Awami League Joint General Secretary Rumana Akter, Awami League leader A.K. Chowdhury, Jubo League leaders Mizanur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, US Chhatra League Vice President Shahidul Islam, and US Jubo League leader Khandaker Zahedul Islam.

Virginia State Awami League President G.I. Russell and member Jeba Russell, Metro Washington Awami League President M. Nabi Baki, Vice President Nurul Amin, General Secretary Mohammad Azam and Women’s Affairs Secretary Mohsina Jannat Rimi, as well as Maryland State Awami League President Moinul Majumdar Tapas, Mosharraf Hossain Dulal and Sramik League President Azizul Khokon were also among those present.

The rally concluded with demands for the restoration of the Awami League’s political rights and the return of Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh, along with calls for a fresh election.