Peter Haas meeting claim is rumour and baseless: Nasiruddin

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary has denied the claim of meeting with former US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas in Cox’s Bazar.

Earlier in the day, a news of the meeting was spread on social media platforms which has arisen speculation among the netizens regarding NCP leaders Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Nasiruddin Patwary, Tasnim Jara, and Khaled Saifullah's Cox's Bazar visit.

They were seen visiting Cox's Bazar today (5 August), the first anniversary of the day when a mass uprising led by students toppled the Awami League government.

In wake of the concern, Nasiruddin Patwari said that the news circulating in the media about them having a meeting with Peter Haas is a rumour and baseless.

Quoting Patwari, media reports said that the NCP leaders are not visiting Cox’s Bazar to meet anyone. They were tired from the July Padajatra campaign and so they came to visit the coastal district.

Nasiruddin Patwari said: "I was just visiting the beach. Now I am seeing the news. This is a total rumour, misinformation, nothing like tit’s a media propaganda."

He claimed: "I am hearing here that we are coming to meet Peter Haas. If that were the case, we could have met in Dhaka."

In addition, when various state programmes are underway on the anniversary of the July Uprising, various criticisms have also started regarding the Cox's Bazar visit of NCP leaders.

In response to the question of whether they will participate in the state programme of the July Uprising, Nasiruddin Patwari said: "We have received an invitation card from our convener and member secretary, as far as I know, a delegation from our party will go there."

He said: "Those who have been told that a small delegation from each party is going, so will we."

On Tuesday (August 5) afternoon, various discussions started surrounding the visit of the NCP leaders to Cox’s Bazar.