The headline of a sub-editorial published on the Daily Kalbela online on September 25, 2023, by Dr. Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, the Treasurer of Barishal University reads: “Why Did BNP Carry Pakistan’s Flag in Their Rally in New York?” In the article, he writes, “In the wake of various allegations, including demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in corruption cases and seeking advanced medical treatment abroad, the BNP staged a protest in the United States last Friday (September 22).The sight of the Pakistani flag at a protest in front of the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York has raised questions among Bengalis about why and how some people came to participate in the demonstration displaying the Pakistani flag?”
The Bangla Insider, which has been accused of spreading false information, has published an article titled “BNP’s U.S wing holds protest with the flag of Pakistan demaning Begum Khaleda Zia’s Release.” This comes after photos of Tareq Rahman, Khaleda Zia, and the Bangladeshi and Pakistani flags side-by-side surfaced on Facebook in connection with a BNP rally. You can view the related Facebook posts here, here, and here. You can watch the video of the incident here.
Despite multiple attempts to corroborate the BNP’s claims that Khaleda Zia demanded her release while waving the Pakistani flag in the United States, no reliable evidence has been found. The actual occurrence is part of the standard practice during United Nations General Assembly sessions, when people from various countries gather in front of the United Nations headquarters to raise their demands. This is why various actions and protests by people from different countries take place at the same time in different locations.
A more thorough investigation revealed that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s delegation had a planned event at the United Nations headquarters on that day. The event was described as a PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) activity in a live video caption on TV One USA’s Facebook page. The flag of Bangladesh can also be seen in the first 15 seconds of the live video. You can watch the video here. The video is also available on PTI’s official YouTube channel with the username @ptiofficialpk.
Additionally, a Facebook post shows a placard with a picture of Tarique Rahman next to a placard with the name of General Bajwa. General Kamar Javed Bajwa is a former Pakistani Army General, and the juxtaposition of his name with former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was likely intended to stir up controversy. You can read a news article about this here.
In conclusion, the news circulating about a BNP rally in front of the United Nations headquarters with the Pakistani flag is false. In reality, there were separate gatherings in front of the United Nations headquarters, with people from different countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and supporters of BNP from Bangladesh, voicing their respective demands.