“He Left Like a Wet Cat”

Al Jazeera journalist Zulkarnain Sayer Sami has voiced strong criticism following the incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, where eggs were thrown at Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the National Citizen’s Party (NCP) and a member of Dr Muhammad Yunus’s interim government delegation.

In a Facebook post, Zulkarnain wrote: “Dr Yunus, you should have considered the safety of the guests you brought along. You were so careful inside the flight, taking photos and promoting them widely, but upon landing, you left like a wet cat under the security cover, leaving your guests unprotected and exposed to such a humiliating situation.”

He further questioned the behaviour of officials: “Those government officials inside the flight who posed for all the photos—where were you when this happened? Did you just vanish, leaving the dignitaries behind? Shame on you all.”

Earlier, on Tuesday, 23 September at 1:00 a.m. Bangladesh time, members of the Awami League’s United States branch threw eggs at Akhtar Hossain at Terminal 8 of JFK Airport.

The confrontation occurred as the Bangladeshi delegation, including the Chief Adviser of the interim government, arrived in New York. From noon onwards, Awami League leaders and activists gathered at JFK to protest the visit, while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters held a welcoming assembly for the Chief Adviser and BNP Secretary General.

Both groups faced off in the terminal area, shouting slogans and waving banners and festoons of various colours, creating a tense atmosphere well before the arrival of the flight.

By 3:45 p.m., as members of the delegation began exiting the terminal towards waiting vehicles, tensions escalated further.

• Awami League activists verbally abused Akhtar Hossain and Dr Tasnim Jara, Senior Joint Member Secretary of NCP.
• During the altercation, eggs were thrown multiple times at Akhtar Hossain, intensifying the situation.

The incident drew widespread attention on social media and raised questions about the security arrangements for visiting dignitaries, with many critics, including Zulkarnain, questioning Dr Yunus’s oversight and responsibility.

The JFK airport episode has now become a focal point in the debate over political representation and protest during high-profile diplomatic visits.