A Correspondent:
New York: Bangladeshi expatriates are brimming with enthusiasm ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s arrival here to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly as Bang-ladeshi diasporas have taken extensive preparations to give him a warm welcome.
The excitement is particularly visible in Jackson Heights, the hub of the Bangladeshi community, where streets and prominent locations have been adorned with banners, posters and festoons ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival, while individuals and community groups are also arranging programs.
Mainly leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated and associated bodies will organize the programs.
They have held a series of preparatory meetings and coordinated across Bangladeshi-populated areas of New York to chalk out the welcome program.
The preparations have also focused on maintaining discipline during planned programmes at the airport and in front of the UN headquarters.
According to reports from the community, 34 preparatory meetings have so far been held involving the USA BNP, its affiliated and associated organizations and former party leaders.
At a meeting in Jackson Heights last Thursday, BNP leaders and activists discussed arrangements for the Prime Minister’s arrival in New York. BNP Central International Affairs Secretary Anwar Hossain Khokon was in the chair.
The USA and New York State BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Labour Party and other affiliat-ed and associated organizations have displayed banners welcoming the Prime Minister.
Individual expatriate Bangladeshis have also put up posters and banners, some featuring images of Tarique Rahman, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka today and address the 81st session of the UNGA on September 24.
