Four NCP leaders hold 2-hour meeting with US chargé d’affaires

Four National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders have held a two-hour meeting at the Dhaka residence of Tracy Ann Jacobson, the US chargé d’affaires in Bangladesh.

The party’s Convenor Nahid Islam, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara, and Joint Member Secretary Alauddin Mohammad visited her residence on Monday afternoon.

Political Economic Counsellor Eric Gillan and two other senior officials of the US embassy were also in attendance.

The meeting took place six days after rumors spread of a meeting between five top NCP leaders and former US Ambassador Peter Haas in Cox’s Bazar on the anniversary day of the July Uprising.

According to an NCP press release, the meeting involved exchanges of views on Bangladesh’s current political and law and order situation, upcoming national elections, democratic processes, and global cooperation.

“The July Proclamation, July Charter, and NCP’s July march were also in discussion. Ambassador Jacobson pledged US support for strengthening Bangladesh’s democratic process. She also inquired about NCP’s plans for the upcoming election.”

The US embassy officials held this meeting as part of ongoing discussions with political parties in Bangladesh, NCP leader Alauddin told bdnews24.com.

“Since our office is in a commercial building and considering security, we held the meeting at the residence of the chargé d’affaires. We talked about the current political situation, the 24-point agenda, and future political plans,” he added.

However, the US embassy issued no official statement about the meeting.

On Aug 5, while the celebration of the July Uprising was under way at Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue, news broke that five top NCP leaders had gone to Cox’s Bazar.

They were Joint Convenor Khaled Saifullah, his wife and Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim, Chief Organiser (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Chief Organiser (Southern Region) Hasnat Abdullah, and Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary.

Rumours spread that they were meeting former US ambassador Peter Haas at a hotel there. The NCP leaders denied this.

No proof later emerged that Haas was in Cox’s Bazar that day.

The party later showcased the five for the Cox’s Bazar trip without informing anyone.

In response, Nasiruddin wrote that he had gone to Cox’s Bazar to privately think about the “future direction of politics”.

Hasnat explained that he went to Cox’s Bazar to express his “silent protest” against the “incomplete July Proclamation”.