A video has gone viral on social media wherein a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, who was part of fuelling anti-India rhetoric in Bangladesh, was spotted by a fellow Bangladeshi in Kolkata. The man featured in the video was identified as Zakir Hossain Rokon.
Zakir is a central member of JASAS (Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha), the BNP’s cultural wing. For the unversed, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been at the helm of anti-India propaganda even before the fall of Sheikh Hasina.
Before coming to power, their leaders have been part of hateful campaigns and slogans against India. One of the infamous slogans was ‘Delhi na Dhaka’.
When Zakir Hossain Rokon was spotted by a fellow Bangladeshi national in West Bengal’s Kolkata city, he was confronted over his hypocrisy. The JASAS member was questioned about his presence in India, even though he hated the country.
“Aren’t you a member of JASAS? Why did you come here after shouting slogans, ‘Delhi na Dhaka’? Why are you here? Why are you here in Delhi?” the man interrogated.
The Bangladeshi national continued, “You guys don’t like Delhi. Then why did you come here? You can’t stand the government in Delhi, and yet you are here? Who gave you visa?”
BNP leader escapes without answering questions
After being cornered, Zakir had no response to his questions. He was seen escaping and running away from his fellow countryman. The video of the incident has been covered by several Bangladeshi media outlets as ‘JASAS member being harassed in Kolkata.’
It must be mentioned that BNP has been vocal about its anti-India stance. Until recently, it was urging its party members and radical Islamists in Bangladesh to boycott Indian products.
The ‘India Out’ campaign in Bangladesh, modelled along the lines of Maldives, was supported by BNP’s senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Imtiaz Ahmed, a political science professor at Dhaka University told Frontline magazine, “It is mainly being driven by the Bangladeshi diaspora who are either BNP members or closely associated with the party.”
Indian authorities detain Islamist Hasan Mehd at Delhi airport
In February this year, an Islamist accused of the 2024 murder of a Hindu police officer in Bangladesh was detained at the Delhi airport while trying to fly to Europe. The accused, Ahmed Raza Hasan Mehdi, was later deported back to Bangladesh.
According to the media reports, immigration authorities intercepted Mehdi at the airport before he could board his international flight. After questioning and completing formalities, officials sent him back to Bangladesh.
Mehdi is said to be a ‘student coordinator’ from Habiganj district in Bangladesh. He was involved in the killing of Sub-Inspector Santosh Chowdhury, who was attacked by a mob on 5th August, 2024.
