The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will arrange a visit for the Dhaka-based diplomats and representatives of international agencies to the sites of destruction during the countrywide violence originated from a students’ movement against quotas in civil service on Wednesday.
“We’ll arrange the visit tomorrow because once we repair the sites, they will not be able to see that,” Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told reporters on Tuesday.
He earlier invited diplomats to visit those sites on Sunday while briefing them about the situation.
The minister said it was an attack on the state since they had torched state properties such as BTV, metro rail stations, elevated expressway, the disaster management as well as health departments, and data center.
Taliban-style massacre
He accused BNP, Jamaat and the local militant groups behind the mayhem.
“It’s a Taliban style massacre. They even hanged the bodies after killing. Taliban used to do this. We have seen this type of killing by the militants here before. BNP, Jamaat and militants did this together,” he said.
Asked whether any foreign hands were behind this as indicated by some political leaders, he said: “As a foreign minister, I cannot say anything without verification.
“But BNP, Jamaat and militant groups in Bangladesh have links with the international terrorists’ group.”
When asked, he said the Home Ministry is working on the death figure.
Al-Jazeera distorting facts
The foreign minister also noted that Qatar-based Al-Jazeera is distorting the facts about the violence.
“We have asked our ambassador in Doha to talk to the Al-Jazeera authority. Their local correspondent here is sending false, fabricated and distorted news,” he said, adding that rumours were spreading outside Bangladesh.
“They are taking the advantage of not having internet here. It is unexpected. We have alerted our missions,” he said.
The minister also condemned the killing of journalists during the violence. “They have killed two journalists also. I strongly condemn this. Media works for the people. But many journalists have been injured,” he said.