The Bangladeshi High Commissioner in Singapore, Mahbub Uz Zaman, said there was no factual basis for news reports published in some Singapore media that the riot in the Indian enclave resulted from an accident involving a Bangladeshi worker.
The high commissioner has issued a statement in this regard immediately after the local media of the country reported that rioting was triggered by a bus accident involving a Bangladeshi worker.
Rejecting the media reports, Mahbub Uz Zaman called on the Bangladesh community in the country to be calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies, reports the Standard, Hong Kong's biggest circulation English daily.
He said: "I want to categorically state that as per available information, the news reports that appeared on a section of media and news involving a Bangladeshi worker is not based on facts."
"We are pledged and duty bound to help the authorities to maintain rule of law, order and discipline in the society and community. This is necessary to maintain overall law and order, and also to ensure that the law enforcement agencies can carry out their duties and responsibilities."
"We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our hands of cooperation and assistance to the government and relevant agencies," he added.
A total of 27 South Asian workers have been arrested for rioting last night in Singapore, the worst bout of violence in the island in many decades.
Singapore broadcaster Channel News Asia earlier in the day reported that rioting was triggered by a bus accident involving a Bangladeshi worker.
However, a police statement said the riot was in the congested Little India district when a 33-year-old Indian man was killed after being hit by a private bus.
The victim was identified by the Straits Times newspaper as Sakthivel Kumaravelu, a 33-year-old who worked for a scaffolding company and was among the many migrant workers who gather in Little India on Sundays.
Police said about 400 people on the scene began rioting, attacking the buses as well as police vehicles, AFP reported. State-linked broadcaster MediaCorp said it was the first riot in Singapore since racial disturbances in 1969.
