Mahfuz marked by AL protests in London
Staff Reporter :
The London visit of Adviser for Information and Broadcasting Mahfuz Alam has marked protests by Awami League activists and security incidents while attending two official programmes there on Friday.
Bangladesh High Commission in London shared details of the incidents on its verified Facebook page on Saturday.
Meanwhile, National Citizenship Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam alleged that the government and its advisors are now recklessly using Mahfuz and pushing him toward death.
According to the High Commission, the adviser’s first engagement took place at 4:00 pm at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
The event, jointly organised by SOAS and the Bangladesh High Commission, marked the one-year anniversary of Bangladesh’s July uprising.
Adviser Mahfuz Alam arrived on time and entered the venue without difficulty, as London police had taken strict security measures in advance at the request of SOAS.
While the adviser was inside, a group of 18 Awami League activists staged a demonstration outside the SOAS campus while chanting slogans.
Shortly after Alam and High Commission officials entered the event, miscreants threw eggs at the cars waiting in the parking area, including High Commission vehicles.
Following the programme, Alam and the officials departed the campus in multiple cars without incident.
However, when two empty High Commission vehicles later attempted to leave the campus, several individuals lay down on the road in an attempt to block them.
Others pelted the vehicles with eggs. Police intervened immediately, removing those who tried to obstruct the road and dispersing the attackers.
At 7:30 pm, Adviser Mahfuz Alam attended his second scheduled engagement at the Bangladesh High Commission, where a views-exchange meeting was held with representatives of various political parties, students, and journalists.
The High Commission said that London’s Metropolitan Police has been in continuous contact with the Bangladesh High Commission and assured that full security will be provided to Adviser Mahfuz Alam during his visit.
Meanwhile, Nahid Islam on his verified facebook post alleged there has been an attempted attack on Mahfuz Alam, a central figure in the people’s uprising.
“Previously, attempts were made to attack and humiliate him in the United States. Repeated attacks on Mahfuz Alam by Awami fascists occur because he is the target. In the next phase, each of us will become a target. We know what awaits us. We have witnessed the fascists’ brutality in Gopalganj,” he wrote.
“Those who are silently consenting to attacks on Mahfuz Alam will also suffer. Fascism thrives on divisive politics. Mahfuz Alam, after the people’s uprising, speaks of inclusion, responsibility, and compassionate politics.
But Bangladesh has not followed that path. We are witnessing various groups, under the pretext of opposing fascism, engaging in reactionary and vengeful politics, which will inevitably revive fascism,” he continued.
“Time will prove that Mahfuz Alam was right-if he survives until then,” he mentioned.
He also alleged that the interim government has never taken any strong action in response to attacks on Mahfuz Alam.
“No firm statement has been issued. Not a single adviser or press secretary has ever commented. Even within the government and advisory council, a silent consent to humiliate and kill Mahfuz Alam has been cultivated.
This government and its advisers are now recklessly using Mahfuz and pushing him toward death. We remember all of this. A political response will be given,” he added.