The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis on Thursday to explain the reasons behind making comments over the attacks on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alom during the Dhaka-17 by-poll.
"Gwyn Lewis was not in Dhaka. So the in-charge met my officer. We asked him whether they make similar comments in other countries. He took the notes and said he will convey this to his office," Foreign minister Dr Ak Abdul Momen told Dhaka Tribune on Thursday.
Earlier, in a tweet, the UN resident coordinator expressed concerns over the attack.
"The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected," Gwyn Lewis wrote on Twitter.
The @UNinBangladesh is concerned over the attack on independent MP candidate Ashraful Alam during the Dhaka-17 by-poll. The fundamental human right of everyone to participate in elections without violence should be guaranteed and protected. https://t.co/yk0M0mnVYD
— Gwyn Lewis (@GwynLewis12) July 18, 2023
Other Western missions in Dhaka also expressed concerns despite police arresting seven persons related to the attack.
A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Dhaka Tribune that Sheldon Yett, in charge of the UNRC, met the foreign ministry's Additional Secretary Asad Alam Siam following the summons.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen expressed displeasure over the joint statement, regarding the assault on Hero Alom, issued by foreign missions in Dhaka.
He wondered whether such incidents happening in other countries result in similar reactions.
"That's not acceptable. They create noises when something happens in Bangladesh only. But don't do the same as a group when similar things happen in the US, UK, France or in other countries," Momen said when a reporter asked for his comments on the issue.
Hero Alom was subjected to physical assault in Dhaka's Banani area shortly before the end of voting on Monday.
He later alleged that ruling party men attacked him at Banani Bidyaniketan School and College polling centre in the afternoon “with the intention of murder.”
Ruling Awami League MP-elect Mohammad A Arafat, who made a landslide victory in Dhaka-17 by-polls, condemned the attack and demanded exemplary punishment against those miscreants who were involved in this incident.
