Behaviour of AL men with Asif Nazrul unacceptable: Tarique Rahman

Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the BNP, has condemned the "arrogant and inappropriate behaviour" of Awami League activists with Asif Nazrul, the interim government's law affairs adviser.

He called the incident "unacceptable" and a serious blow to the nation's dignity.

In a statement issued today (8 October), Tarique described the event that took place Thursday evening at Geneva Airport in Switzerland. Asif Nazrul was confronted by a group of Awami League "miscreants" while travelling to France. 

"Such an improper act towards a government adviser on foreign soil is not only unacceptable but also a profound insult to the nation's and its people's self-respect," he said.

A video circulating on social media later that night showed the group aggressively confronting Asif Nazrul at the airport while chanting slogans like "Joy Bangla" and "Joy Bangabandhu."

Tarique criticised the actions, calling them a sign of "the violent face of fascism," which he claimed is spreading in Bangladesh and abroad. He accused Awami League leaders and supporters, influenced by Sheikh Hasina's ideology, of attacking democratic forces whenever possible.

"Their behaviour proves they remain committed to Hasina's authoritarian politics of killings and disappearances, sustained through disorder, violence, division, intolerance, disunity, looting of the national economy, and massive money laundering," Tarique said. "They do not believe in democracy, recognise human rights, the rule of law, judicial independence, or the civil liberties of the people."

He continued, saying that hostility toward democracy has always been a defining characteristic of the Awami League. He claimed that Hasina's anger has not subsided since she left the country after failing to suppress the student and public movement through violence.

Tarique accused her supporters, both at home and abroad, of seizing every opportunity to harm pro-democracy individuals.

He described the incident at Geneva Airport as a reflection of the misrule established by Hasina. Tarique also accused Hasina of trying to complicate the country's politics from abroad, with conspiracies aimed at harassing pro-democracy figures and sabotaging Bangladesh's internal affairs.

"The Awami League is a power-hungry, crime-prone party," Tarique said. "In their frustration over losing power, they have become directionless and resort to terrorist activities."

He called for the identification and punishment of those involved in such activities, urging pro-democracy Bangladeshis abroad to inform the authorities about the fascist allies of the Awami League.

"The people of Bangladesh have already bottled up the Awami League monster. There must be united efforts to bring these Awami League conspirators to justice on the international stage," he concluded.