Foreign diplomats concerned over violence, arson

Horrified driver stand in front of his bus as miscreants set fire to it in front of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on January 4. Photo: STAR

Foreign diplomats today expressed concerns over the ongoing violence and arson attacks, particularly loss of lives and properties in Bangladesh.
“While discussing the current situation in the country, the diplomats categorically said that destructive activities, setting fire and damaging properties are contrary to the democracy,” Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque told the media after a diplomatic briefing.
He said Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali briefed the ambassadors and representatives of United States, UN, China, Japan, Brazil, Australia, South Korea and North Korea at State Guesthouse Padma on government’s one-year diplomatic successes and the current political situation in the country.
The foreign secretary said the diplomats opined that democracy cannot be upheld through violence and hoped that the current destructive activities will come to an end immediately.
The briefing was organized as part of the foreign minister’s regular consultations with the ambassadors and heads of mission based in Dhaka.
Earlier on January 14, the foreign minister briefed the ambassadors of the European Union countries and the head of delegation of the European Union in Bangladesh on the current political situation in the country.