Diplomats were stunned by the devastation: Foreign Minister
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Photo: Collected
Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that the diplomats were shocked to see the devastation in different places of Dhaka. He said the diplomats said 'this is your internal matter, we are with you'.
He said this during a press briefing at State Guest House Padma on Wednesday (July 24) evening. Earlier, the foreign minister visited four buildings in Dhaka which were severely damaged and burnt by the miscreants at various places recently along with foreign mission chiefs and diplomats.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, today we took the diplomats working in Bangladesh to various state institutions in Dhaka city such as Metrorail, Setu Bhaban and Health Directorate. Our plan was to take them to a few places, especially the Directorate of Disaster Management, the data center. But it took much longer than expected due to heavy traffic jams and rain. That's why I showed them the devastation of the Mirpur metro rail. The way it was set on fire, even the foot over bridge was burnt. As rampage has been carried out in the Setu Bhavan, up to 12 floors have been set on fire. They went up to the seventh floor and caused havoc.
The minister said that BTV is the home of television. Many of those who run television channels today have got their hands on BTV. BTV is the first TV channel in the region. It was established in 1964. It was the first channel in Bengali language then, there was no television channel in India yet. The way it was burned there. And what devastation, rows of cars burned. Same situation in Setu Bhawan. The cars next to the metro rail were burnt. These are attacks on the state. These are people's property, they are not property. They also succumbed to the onslaught of the Pakistani invasion forces. Pakistani invasion forces did not burn our television channel, but they did. In the same manner as the Pakistani occupation forces have burnt people's houses, they have burnt people's property, state property. Houses burned.
Dr. Hasan said, a protest has been organized in front of our mission in Los Angeles. Pakistanis joined there. Several Pakistanis were involved in organizing it. Similarly, the BNP-Jamaat Chakra took the help of the Pakistani community in the protests that took place in front of our various missions. Demonstrations and rumors are spreading in these places about that support. After the diplomats left today, many said 'this is shame'. Many have shared their feelings with me, all saying 'we are with you, we are with you'. This is your 'internal affair, we are with you'.
The minister said, we sent a note from our ministry to everyone that this is our internal matter, that foreign embassies or diplomats should not send any statement to the media. Statements have been issued by their state in various places and they are complying with it. That's why I didn't call the media there today. They also did not want to talk to the media. They are living up to it. In the past, when something like this happened, our diplomats were encouraged to speak up. Thank you for not doing it this time (media).