BNP men attack BD High Commission in London

Leaders and activists of BNP have attacked the staff of Bangladesh High Commission in London and ransacked its furniture which the government termed tantamount to an attack on Bangladesh.

The High Commission came under sudden attack on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Thursday’s verdict in the graft case against Khaleda Zia. 

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister, was jailed here for five years on Thursday after she was found guilty in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

“Police have arrested one of the attackers. Video footage has been given to police. Police were there and the attack took place in presence of police,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters at the Foreign Ministry here on Thursday.

The Bangladesh High Commission in London in a statement said the BNP activists and members of its wings forcibly entered the High Commission in the pretext of submitting a memorandum.

They attacked the High Commission staff and vandalised assets of the mission, said the High Commission. 

Responding to a question, Minister Ali said any organisation can demonstrate as per British law but such demonstration must be peaceful. “This is a requirement and you need to do it abiding by laws.”

But, he said, problem arises when the demonstration turns vengeance and a democratic society does not support any destructive activities and this is also applied in Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh High Commission in London represents Bangladesh in the UK. So, damaging High Commission’s asset is like damaging state assets, and attack on the High Commission is tantamount to attack on Bangladesh,” the High Commission said in a statement read out by the Foreign Minister at the press conference.

Such destructive activities by the unruly demonstrators and their conducts tarnished Bangladesh’s image abroad, said the High Commission.

The High Commission said the attackers are trying to create confusions among people by spreading fake photos on social networking platforms.

Source: unb