PM’s US Visit Sparks Excitement Among Bangladeshis

Farooq Hossain

Ending a 20-year wait, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the United States on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). After two decades of political changes, shifts in national power and a long struggle against fascism, his New York visit as head of state has created unprecedented enthusiasm, excitement and emotion not only among BNP leaders and activists in the United States but also among Bangladeshi expatriates across North America.

Against the backdrop of the democratic transition and the beginning of a new journey in Bangladesh following the fall of the fascist Awami League government on August 5, 2024, PM’s visit is being viewed as significant. On one hand, it is seen as an opportunity to present the position of the new Bangladesh and its diplomatic message on the global stage. On the other, expatriates see it as a historic moment to raise their long-standing demands, create a safe investment environment in Bangladesh and reorganise the US BNP, which has suffered from a lack of organisational leadership for 15 consecutive years.

To make the Prime Minister’s visit memorable, the US BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and various social and regional organisations have made extensive preparations. The expatriate gathering places in New York, including Jackson Heights, Manhattan and Brooklyn, are now filled with discussions about the Prime Minister’s visit and the planned civic reception.

At the same time, expatriates say the remittances sent by them have always served as a lifeline during any national crisis or economic recovery in Bangladesh. Although expatriates were recognised as “remittance warriors” in the past, many have faced bitter experiences when trying to invest in the country. Therefore, Bangladeshi expatriates in the United States have strongly demanded a “one-stop service” and investment protection to keep the wheels of the economy moving.

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan Milton, a member of the BNP National Executive Committee and a Bangladeshi expatriate in the United States, said expatriates are deeply interested in becoming major partners in their country’s economy. However, he said many lost everything after investing during the previous government due to various administrative complications, bureaucratic delays, institutional corruption and political extortion.

According to Mizanur Rahman Milton, the biggest expectation of expatriates from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is the introduction of a strong, modern and corruption-free “one-stop service” to protect expatriate investments in Bangladesh.

He said successful expatriate entrepreneurs from the United States and other countries are currently ready to invest thousands of crores of taka in sectors such as information technology (IT), renewable green energy, modern agricultural processing and large infrastructure projects.

If the Prime Minister ensures specific policy support, legal protection and a platform for quick decision-making, it will strengthen the country’s foreign exchange reserves and create extensive employment opportunities, he said. Another major demand of expatriates is an end to long-standing harassment during passport renewal, National Identity Card (NID) correction, attestation of powers of attorney and at airports across the country, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. Expatriates hope that the Prime Minister will directly hear about their difficulties and provide effective directions for administrative reforms to resolve them.

Expatriates’ Role in the Democratic Movement

During the past one and a half decades, when opposition voices were subjected to repression in Bangladesh, expatriate Bangladeshis were among the most vocal opponents of the authoritarian rule on the international stage. Expatriate activists played a leading role in protests in front of the White House in freezing weather in Washington, demonstrations outside the United Nations headquarters in New York and efforts to approach various international human rights organisations to highlight human rights violations in Bangladesh.

Recalling the long resistance movement, Mizanur Rahman Milton said that despite speaking in favour of democratic rights on foreign soil, BNP leaders and activists were not spared the wrath of the authoritarian regime. He said many homes of US BNP leaders and activists in Bangladesh were attacked, vandalised and set on fire. Members of many families also faced administrative harassment.

As a major example of political vengeance, Mr. Milton referred to his own experience. He said he was made an accused in 2015 in an alleged and fabricated conspiracy case over the so-called abduction and murder attempt of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of then Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, for political purposes.

As a result, he could not return to his homeland for nine years and was deprived of the company of his family members and loved ones. However, he did not leave the streets and continued working to present the real situation in Bangladesh to the US Congress, the State Department and international diplomats.

Following the change in the political situation on August 5, 2024, he returned to Bangladesh on August 18 and was fully acquitted of the politically motivated case through the court. Highlighting the sacrifices and contributions of expatriates, he called for the effective implementation of voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis at the state level and for giving priority to their voices in policymaking.

15-Year Stalemate: Expectations for Reorganisation of US BNP Committee

The Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s visit has also generated enthusiasm among the local BNP leadership. As the largest BNP unit in North America has not had an approved and full-fledged organisational committee for the past 15 years, severe organisational disorder, confusion and factional conflicts have emerged.

Mizanur Rahman Milton openly admitted that field-level leaders and activists who have been dedicated, active and qualified have been undervalued due to the absence of a committee for 15 years. He said the lack of an organisational structure has also hindered the party from playing the role it could have played as a strong international lobbying force and platform. However, despite all obstacles, the leaders and activists never abandoned the party flag during the movements and struggles.

Party leaders and activists are now waiting for a decision from Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. They believe PM Tarique Rahman, who is seen as a symbol of disciplined politics, will resolve the internal organisational disorder during his visit. They expect the visit to provide clear directions for forming a dynamic and strong new US BNP committee by combining dedicated and experienced leaders with young leadership that has been active in the expatriate community.

With new leadership, the party will not only become organisationally stronger among expatriates but will also strengthen its position in international diplomacy, they believe.

Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal Preparations

Activities by the BNP’s affiliated organisations in New York have reached a peak ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival. Worker and preparatory meetings have been held continuously over the past few days. A worker meeting organised by Jubo Dal was held at a hall in New York on Thursday afternoon. The meeting was chaired by organisation leader Zakir Chowdhury and supervised by Central Vice-President Abu Sayeed Ahmed. BNP Central International Affairs Secretary Anwar Hossain Khokon attended the meeting as the chief guest. Amanat Hossain, Rezaul Azad Bhuiyan and other leaders conducted the programme. BNP Central Executive Committee members Abdul Latif Samrat, Zillur Rahman Zillu and Mohammad Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan Milton attended and spoke as special guests. The meeting announced plans to hold a historic and grand civic reception for the Prime Minister in New York.

For this purpose, the organisers have already visited several international-standard convention centres, including the world-famous New York Hilton Midtown and Sheraton New York Times Square hotels. However, the Prime Minister’s Office has issued strict instructions that there must be no wasteful spending or extravagance in organising the event.

The final venue and schedule for the reception will be announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, ensuring strict austerity, complete transparency and the participation of ordinary people. The following day, Friday afternoon, a preparatory meeting organised by the US Swechchhasebak Dal was held in the heart of Jackson Heights, New York.

The meeting was chaired by the organisation’s Central International Affairs Secretary Maksudul Haque Chowdhury. BNP Central International Affairs Secretary Anwar Hossain Khokon also attended the meeting as the chief guest. Former president of the US Swechchhasebak Dal and BNP Central Executive Committee member Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan Milton, Central Executive Committee members Abdul Latif Samrat and Zillur Rahman Zillu, Central Swechchhasebak Dal Assistant International Affairs Secretary Saifur Khan Harun, and former acting president of the US Swechchhasebak Dal Tariqul Islam Dipu attended the meeting as special guests and delivered speeches.

Central Swechchhasebak Dal Assistant International Affairs Secretary Khorshed Alam and member Nur Alam jointly conducted the meeting. Among others, prominent US Swechchhasebak Dal leaders Rashed Rahman, Harun Mia, Badal Mirza, Milon and Tipu, along with hundreds of leaders and activists, were present.

The speakers said PM’s arrival in New York after 20 years is a historic moment.
They called on the US BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and all affiliated and associate organisations to build “steel-hard unity” by putting aside all past misunderstandings, hurt feelings and divisions and turning the party chief’s visit into a peaceful, disciplined and most successful gathering in history.