Bangladesh High Commission in London dismisses BNP’s version of attack as baseless

The Bangladesh High Commission in London has brushed aside the allegation brought by the UK chapter of the BNP against the acting high commissioner of intimidation and rude behaviour to protesters.

“It appears from the heinous and violent activities by the demonstrators that submitting a memorandum was a cover to attack the high commission,” the high commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said some protesters, including those who were leading the demonstration, physically assaulted a high commission official.

“The allegations against the staff of rude behaviour stoking tensions are baseless. Rather it’s clear that the attack on the high commission was planned.”

The London mission made it clear that none of its staff appeared indecent to the protesters.  

“The high commission’s staff responded to the threats by the protesters professionally and patiently,” it said.

Early on Feb 8, BNP’s UK chapter attacked the mission, just ahead of a verdict on party chairperson Khaleda Zia in a corruption case.

Some 100 party supporters carrying banners and placards gathered at the high commission premises.

Some protesters stormed the mission, attacked officials and vandalised furniture and glass and dishonoured the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by smashing the frame and glass cover. They entered the premises under cover of submitting a memorandum to the high commissioner, according to the statement.

The BNP’s UK unit later apologised for the ‘untoward incident’, in a statement released by its President MA Malique and General Secretary Koysor M Ahmed.

It, however, claimed the acting high commissioner refused to accept the memo they submitted and ‘was very rude’.

The London mission, however, said the demonstrators were asked to submit the memo through the police in line with the procedure.

Describing the UK BNP’s statement as ‘falsification’ by its leadership, the high commission said they found it ‘disappointing’.

The high commission said they have asked the UK government to initiate legal actions against “the perpetrators and the mastermind”.