AL mob attacks Info Adviser Mahfuj in NY

Staff Reporter :

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam came under attack on Saturday evening (24 August) while entering the Consulate General of Bangladesh in New York.

A mob carrying Awami League (AL) flags chanted slogans including “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu”, and threw eggs at the adviser. The miscreants also shouted anti-Mahfuj slogans, while some damaged the consulate’s glass doors during the incident.

The attack coincided with a consulate event commemorating the anniversary of the July Uprising, where Mr Alam was attending as chief guest.

During the programme, Golam Mortoza, press minister at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and a special guest, drew parallels with past political struggles in Bangladesh. He remarked:
“In a country once ruled by a monarchy, there was a king, his sister, and his children who were princes and princesses. The whole nation belonged to them. You, the student leaders, shed blood to bring down that king and drive them out. So now, if one of them throws an egg, makes a harsh comment, or calls for Mahfuj Alam’s removal, isn’t that quite natural?”
Mr Alam did not comment directly on the incident in his speech. Instead, he thanked expatriates for their contribution to the July movement, saying:
“The contribution of expatriates will be recorded in the July Charter. I am not part of any political party. We want future governments to function in the spirit of July-free from corruption, accountable, and prioritising the interests of the nation above political ideology.”

The adviser later responded to questions from the audience. When asked about banning Indian television channels in Bangladesh, he said he did not support such restrictions, preferring instead to promote stronger alternatives. He added that he was not in favour of banning anything linked to the Awami League either.

The event began with a welcome address by New York Consul General Muhammad Mozammel Haque, who also moderated the question-and-answer session.

After the programme, a group of AL supporters reportedly gathered outside the consulate, prompting the authorities to request police assistance. Mr Alam left the premises under New York Police Department escort shortly after midnight.

He is scheduled to remain in the United States on an official visit until 27 August.

It may be recalled that on 7 November last year, Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul was harassed at Geneva Airport in Switzerland by a mob chanting political slogans in favour of the Awami League. That incident drew widespread criticism from political and civil society figures.