Advisory: With photo of the mosque
Dhaka July 22 (BDNEWS) – Bangladeshis living in London are panicked by the death of a suspected bomber of South Asian origin in a police shoot out and rumours of keeping harmful chemicals inside a mosque Friday.
The Bengali community, especially the students and work permit holders, got terrified when police sealed off the "East London Mosque," as the law enforcers received information of keeping a bag of chemicals inside the Muslim worship at White Chapel in East London, dominated by Bangladeshis.
However, Muslims took part in the Jumma prayers after a thorough check.
"Following the information of a bag of chemicals, police evacuated the mosque before Friday's Jumma prayer," said Abdur Rahman Khan, manager of the mosque when reached by telephone from Dhaka.
"Musullis terrified by the phone call that there are chemicals inside the mosque ran helter skelter as they apprehended an explosion. But nothing happened and nothing was found on police search," he said.
"Later the Jumma prayer was held and the attendance was normal, 5,000," Khan told BDNEWS.
But, many students studying in different universities in London said they are worried.
Some of them said the situation is becoming so dreadful that if possible they are thinking of giving up study abroad and return home.
"I am so afraid that I did not get out of my home today, I am just hearing the police siren," said an MSC student of University of Greenwich.
He said the situation was becoming normal following the bomb blast of July 7, but Thursday's bomb blast changed the whole scenario. "The way the British people are looking at us as if we are doing all these."
Remembering his early days in London, he said everything was so beautiful here, but now it turned to be chaotic.
Another Bangladeshi student living in Shadwall said: "We are facing sweeping comments from the British people because of our origin ... it is a mental pressure on us."
"I want to return to my country as early as possible. If necessary I will give up my study although I have to complete only one more semester," he said.
Bangladeshis living in the UK with work permits said they are worried because of their origin as the Pakistanis were behind a series of incidents.
"I am worried that there might be a change in British immigration law," apprehended a Bangladeshi who works with a restaurant at Banglatown.
A housewife living in Poplar said: "I did not go out of my home for two days with my child. It is a panicky situation. The attitude of British people towards us has dramatically changed."
A Bangladeshi, who had been living in London for the last three years and working at a London college, said: "There are some people who are giving look at us as if we blasted the bombs. In fact, we are the victims."
BDNEWS/2038 hrs
