Dhaka, Sept. 24 -- The violent assault on senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Citizen Party (NCP) at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport has ignited sharp criticism of Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry and its diplomatic missions in the United States, with opposition leaders denouncing what they described as a "systemic failure" to protect prominent figures abroad.

The incident occurred Monday as a delegation led by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus arrived in New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Among those targeted were NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara, and BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamg...