Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam has instructed police officers to arrest individuals responsible for vandalizing shops and businesses in Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and several other cities across the country.
"We have video footage of the attackers. They are being identified and will be arrested immediately. Police teams are currently working on this," the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing quoted the police chief as saying on Monday.
"The government does not impede any lawful protests. However, we will not tolerate any criminal acts under the guise of protest.”
Notably, protests erupted across Bangladesh, with some mobs targeting businesses perceived to have links to Israel, including Bata, KFC and Pizza Hut, in districts such as Bogra, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar.
The protests condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and called for a boycott of Israeli-affiliated products.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said: “At a time when we are hosting a summit to showcase Bangladesh as an investment destination, it is unfortunate to see our countrymen setting such deplorable examples.
“A lot of these businesses were local investors; some of them were foreigners who believed in Bangladesh. They all offered employment opportunities to our youth. Those who have committed these heinous acts of vandalism are true enemies of job creation, economic growth and stability,” he added.