US embassy seeks consulate access for detained 'Biden advisor'

The US embassy in Dhaka has sought "consular access" for the detained Mian Jahidul Islam alias Arefy, who identified himself as an advisor to US President Joe Biden and spoke to media from the BNP headquarters.

"The US embassy has sought consular access. We'll take measures according to the law," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shariar Alam said while replying to a question.

Arefy is a Bangladeshi American who lives in Maryland, US. He was born and raised in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj and often visits Bangladesh, according to sources.

Officials of Bangladesh Police's Immigration Services detained him at Dhaka airport on Sunday afternoon as he was trying to escape a day after he went to the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan and spoke to reporters introducing himself as an adviser to Biden. BNP leader Ishraque Hossain was present at the time.

The US Embassy in Dhaka earlier on Saturday night said that rumors of any movement of the embassy are completely "false and inaccurate".

An embassy spokesperson also said: “This gentleman does not speak for the US government and is a private individual.”

The rumors began when Arefy visited the BNP office and identified him as an adviser of the US President Joe Biden’s election campaign.

After the clash with police that foiled the BNP’s rally, he turned up at the BNP office and assured opposition supporters of US President Joe Biden’s support to ensure regime change in Bangladesh.

Sitting with a number of BNP leaders including Ishraque Hossain, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, he even went ahead to claim the US president is in full favour of the restoration of the caretaker government.

Aside from Biden, he bragged about his day-to-day contact with State Department and US embassy officials in Bangladesh.

He claimed all key players within the US government backed the opposition's movement to bring down the government without taking part in election as this is good for Bangladesh and countrymen.

“The US has given a deadline for Hasina to step down from government on November 3. If she doesn’t listen you will see our actions,” he had said, adding that one of his close associates is now staying in Bangladesh and working in close coordination with US local embassy officials.

The video of his statement went viral. BNP, Jamaat supporters also shared the video with the media.

He was surrounded by BNP leaders including retired military officer Lieutenant General (Retd) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy.

One police constable was killed and 40 more were injured during the clash on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, officials of Bangladesh Police's Immigration Services detained Arefy at Dhaka airport.

During an interrogation by the Detective Branch (DB) of police, Arefy claimed that BNP leaders had taught him what to say during the press conference held at the party’s central office. 

Arefy also claimed that he was not informed about the clash between the BNP and police on Saturday, nor he was told about the attack on Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan’s residence. 

He also claimed that he did not know a police constable was killed in the clash. “I did not know. They (BNP) did wrong with me, and I had mistakes as well.”