US BNP Leaders Reject Reports of Travel Ban on Tarique Rahman

At a crowded press conference held at a restaurant in New York on Saturday evening, BNP leaders said the prime minister’s visit had been shortened because of a busy schedule of state affairs and had nothing to do with any restrictions or travel ban.

 

According to the leaders, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to arrive in New York on September 21. He is expected to address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24 as the representative of Bangladesh and return home the following day.

 

During his visit, preparations are also underway for a number of high-level meetings at the United Nations, as well as bilateral discussions with leaders of various countries, they said.

 

The visit had originally been planned to continue until September 29, including a reception program. However, BNP leaders said the schedule was shortened because of other urgent state engagements, leaving only the core UN-related activities in the itinerary.

 

Anwar Hossain Khokon, BNP’s international affairs secretary and organizational coordinator for North and South America, read out a written statement at the press conference.

 

Among those present were BNP Executive Committee member and former president of the US BNP Abdul Latif Samrat; Executive Committee member and former vice-president of the US BNP Gias Ahmed; and Executive Committee member and former general secretary of the US BNP Zillur Rahman Zillu, along with leaders from various levels of the party.

 

Responding to questions from journalists, BNP leaders said there was no travel ban on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. They alleged that false information was being deliberately circulated on social media to create confusion.

 

The BNP described Tarique Rahman’s visit as a “historic moment” for Bangladesh’s politics and its expatriate community.

 

Party leaders noted that former president Ziaur Rahman was the first member of the family to represent Bangladesh on the global stage, while former prime minister Khaleda Zia addressed the UN General Assembly several times. Tarique Rahman, they said, would now represent Bangladesh at the world forum, making it, according to their claim, the first instance in Bangladesh’s history in which three members of the same family have led the country on the UN stage.

 

The BNP leaders also highlighted what they described as another historic aspect of this year’s 81st UN General Assembly. They said Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman is presiding over the session, which brings together representatives of the UN’s 193 member states.

 

The written statement said that, regardless of alleged efforts by “fascist elements” who had left Bangladesh and were now based in different countries, the party urged democracy-minded expatriate Bangladeshis to remain vigilant.

 

The leaders also called on participants in BNP programs to follow instructions from law enforcement agencies and to take part in events with restraint and responsibility.