Bata has denounced the vandalism of several of its stores in Bangladesh during Monday’s nationwide protests held in solidarity with the global strike for Palestine.
In a statement, the multinational footwear company said: “We are aware of inaccurate claims suggesting that Bata is an Israeli owned company or has political affiliations in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
“Bata Globally is a privately held, family-owned company founded in the Czech Republic, with no political ties to the conflict. It is deeply regrettable that some of our retail locations in Bangladesh have recently been subjected to vandalism, apparently triggered by these false narratives.”
Bata has been serving Bangladesh since 1962, with a strong commitment to quality, and respect for all communities, the statement said.
On Monday, protests erupted in Bangladesh with mobs targeting Israeli-linked businesses, such as Bata, KFC and Pizza Hut in Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and other districts, condemning Israeli aggression in Gaza and demanding a product boycott.
In protest against the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and to demand a boycott of Israeli products, a large mob of students and crowds gathered in Bogra city for a demonstration in the afternoon.
The protest, which began with a march from various educational institutions, culminated at the heart of the city, Satmatha, where demonstrators broke into the Bata showroom, smashing its glass walls.
Following the march, the demonstrators targeted the Bata showroom by throwing bricks and damaging its glass facade.
Employees inside managed to lock the doors and prevent further damage.
