Bangladesh desk: Thirteen foreign missions in Bangladesh, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union, today condemned the attack on Ashraful Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, during the Dhaka-17 by-polls on Monday.
In a joint statement published by the US Embassy in Dhaka, they called on the government to conduct a full investigation and take legal steps against the perpetrators.
“Everyone involved in the upcoming elections should ensure that they are free, fair, and peaceful,” said the diplomatic missions in Dhaka.The joint statement was signed by the embassies/high commissions of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweeden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States and the delegation of the European Union.Hero Alom, an independent candidate in the ongoing Dhaka-17 by-polls, was physically assaulted at a polling centre in Banani around 3:20pm on polls day.
Before Hero Alom entered the building, he took some selfies with fans on the playground of the school, and then some people came towards him and said that it was not a place to shoot TikTok videos. They then started to assault him physically, and even dragged him out after he had entered the corridor of the building.
They chased him even as law enforcers led him away. A group of people then beat him indiscriminately on the street in front of the polling centre. He was finally able to get away on a car around 3:30pm.
