USA Bureau

Preparations are in full swing to accord a civic reception to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus during his stay in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA.

The reception will be held on Sept 26 evening in the ballroom of the Marriott Marquis hotel adjacent to Times Square.

BNP central committee member Gias Ahmed and others are assisting Bangladesh's permanent mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General in New York in organising the event.

After a meeting with Bangladesh Consulate General Najmul Huda on Friday, Ahmed said that only invitees will get access to the reception event. A list of all expatriate Bangladeshis is being prepared.

Consulate General Huda said, “Per the instructions of the Bangladesh embassy in Washington, preparations are underway for the reception event. Expatriates of various classes and professions are cooperating to distribute invitation cards.

“The diaspora community here is very big. But we can only invite 500 people. So the list is being made very carefully."

Yunus is scheduled to arrive in New York accompanied by a seven-strong delegation on Sept 22.

The United Nations Secretariat said Yunus will deliver his speech representing Bangladesh at the 79th UNGA session on Sept 27. He is scheduled to leave New York for Dhaka on the same day.

AL TO STAGE PROTEST

Meanwhile, the US unit of the Awami League has announced a demonstration during Yunus's visit to New York in protest against the attacks and cases on the party leaders and activists after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government.

The leaders and activists will hold a black-flag march at JFK International Airport on Sunday. They have taken permission to hold a protest outside the day of the chief advisor's speech at the United Nations.

US AL president Siddiqur Rahman said: "Murder cases are being filed against millions of Awami League leaders and activists, including the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and many activists are being arrested every day. Bangladesh has been turned into a safe zone for oppression.

"During the term of the interim government led by Yunus, there is a deep-rooted conspiracy to harass and loot the houses of activists, as well as arson attacks and the killing of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Protests will be held at JFK airport and in front of the United Nations to protest these incidents and demand the withdrawal of all cases filed against Hasina. "

He said permission is being taken to hold protests outside the civic reception’s venue.