‘Rumour and baseless’: Patwary bins reports of meeting between NCP leaders, Peter Haas in Cox’s Bazar
While he confirmed the group’s presence in the coastal city, he declined to comment on the specific reason for their visit
Speculation has arisen concerning the presence of National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary, Tasnim Jara, and Khaled Saifullah in Cox's Bazar today (5 August), the first anniversary of the day when a mass uprising led by students toppled the Awami League government.
The news of their travel led to rumours that they were there to meet with former US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas. However, this could not be verified by The Business Standard.
Meanwhile, these claims have been explicitly denied by NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary and Senior Member Secretary Tasnim Jara.
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Speaking to The Business Standard at 2:35pm, Nasiruddin said, "The news circulating in the media about us having a meeting with Peter Haas is a rumour and baseless. However, we are indeed in Cox's Bazar."
While he confirmed the group's presence in the coastal city, he declined to comment on the specific reason for their visit.
Meanwhile, talking to Jamuna TV, he described the trip as a "personal visit" and reiterated that the reports of the meeting with Haas were a rumour and that he had no knowledge of any such meeting.
Meanwhile, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, in a statement to BBC Bangla, claimed the trip was unplanned and that they went there to take a breather from their rallies.
"We came on a sudden visit. We got tired from our rallies and came to relax on the beach for a bit," he said.
He added that he only learned about the rumours after checking into his hotel, stating, "I came here and heard that we are here to meet Peter Haas. If we wanted to meet him, we could have done so in Dhaka."
When asked whether NCP leaders would attend the official anniversary programmes, Patwary responded, "Our president and secretary received invitation cards. As far as I know, a delegation from the party will go there." He added, "Every party was asked to send a small delegation, and we are doing the same."
The group is expected to fly back to Dhaka later today.
Meanwhile, multiple police officials in Cox's Bazar have refuted that the NCP leaders met with the former US ambassador in the coastal city. The officials confirmed that six NCP leaders are currently in Cox's Bazar but denied that any meeting with the foreign dignitary took place.
A security official at Cox's Bazar airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the six NCP leaders arrived on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 11:25am today. The official stated that they exited through the general passenger gate instead of the VIP lounge and confirmed the identities of five of the six individuals.
According to Cox's Bazar District Police spokesperson, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, the leaders are staying at the Royal Tulip hotel in Inani.
"From what we know, they have come to Cox's Bazar for a vacation. There is no former US ambassador Peter Haas here, and the news about a meeting is not true," he said.
Cox's Bazar Superintendent of Police Md Saifuddin Shahin also corroborated this information.
"Peter Haas is not at the Royal Tulip hotel," he said. "There are only three foreign nationals from China in the entire hotel."
While law enforcement and hotel officials have denied the meeting, access for media personnel to the Royal Tulip hotel has been restricted. Outside the hotel, leaders and activists of BNP's Ukhiya unit were seen gathering, expressing scepticism.
They stated that the timing of a "secret meeting" with foreigners on a significant national day like 5 August was "mysterious" and demanded a clear explanation.
The news of the leaders' trip travelled fast, with many locals and journalists seen gathering outside the hotel, highlighting the public interest in the matter.
