Kuwait investigates vandalism in Bangladesh Embassy

Kuwaiti authorities are investigating Thursday's vandalism and physical assaults on staff inside Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait by a group of agitated Bangladeshi workers, said an official on Friday.

He said the probe is being carried out by analyzing CCTV footage.

The Bangladesh Embassy, however, requested the Kuwaiti authorities not to harass any innocent worker during the investigation process.

"We will make sure that no innocent worker is harassed. We have already talked to officials concerned in Kuwait. They have assured us in this regard," said Bangladesh Ambassador to Kuwait SM Abul Kalam.

On Thursday, a group of Bangladeshi workers ransacked the Embassy property, including computers and TV, despite assurance from the Ambassador to address their issues through discussions.

Some 300-400 Bangladeshi workers, employees of a Kuwaiti company, took position in front of the Embassy expressing their grievances against the company over arrears of three months - October-December 2018 - and “iqamas” (work permits) issues in the morning.

"I had a meeting with a small group of them inside the embassy and identified their problems, including arrears and iqama renewal," said the Ambassador conveying the workers' representatives to fulfil their demand through consultation with the company officials.

Later, the ambassador had another meeting with the manager (operations) of the company on the same day at his office asking him to address the issues raised by the Bangladeshi workers.

Ambassador Kalam said the company representative assured him of disbursing the arrears by February 5 and he also obtained a written statement from him for resolving the workers' issues.

When the company representative was leaving the embassy, some of the workers stopped him and got engaged in a scuffle.

Counsellor (Political) and Head of Chancery Md Anisuzzaman and two other staff came under attacks while trying to help the company representative get into his car, embassy officials said.

At one stage, some of the workers entered the embassy and ransacked its furniture indiscriminately despite the ambassador's assurances and requests to return to work.

On request, members of law enforcement agencies rushed to the spot and picked up around 150 workers for questioning, said the embassy sources.

The embassy has also conveyed the overall situation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, said an official.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged all Bangladesh missions abroad and expatriate Bangladeshis to take proper steps to avoid the repetition of any incident like what happened in Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait on Thursday.

"Local police brought the situation under control and picked up some workers. The situation now remains fully peaceful," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Friday night.