The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Tuesday demanded exemplary punishment for officials responsible for failing to provide security to political figures and July heroes in the United States. Party Convener Nahid Islam made the demand during an emergency press conference at the NCP central office in Dhaka, following the harassment of Akhtar Hossain at New York’s airport.

Akhtar Hossain, arriving with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to attend the 80th UN General Assembly, was egged upon exit, while Awami League supporters allegedly assaulted and verbally abused him and NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr. Tasnim Jara.

Nahid Islam claimed the attacks are part of a systematic campaign by the Awami League targeting leaders of the July mass uprising, citing previous incidents including the attempted killing during the July march in Gopalganj and the attack on Adviser Mahfuz Alam abroad. “These are continuations of the Awami League’s fascist activities,” he said, alleging complicity by sections of the government and the Foreign Ministry.

The NCP called for the immediate identification and arrest of all attackers, the resignation of the Consul General in New York, punitive action against negligent officials, and the removal of Awami League appointees from the Foreign Ministry. Nahid also demanded expedited and transparent trials for the July massacre and urged that the Awami League be prosecuted as a terrorist party.

NCP supporters held protest marches in New York and across Bangladesh to denounce the attack. The interim government, meanwhile, expressed sorrow over the incident, describing it as a “targeted and politically motivated assault” allegedly carried out by supporters of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.