Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 437 Thu. August 18, 2005  
   
Front Page


Condemnation from foreign countries


New Delhi expressed concern over the scale and co-ordination of the bomb attacks in Bangladesh while China, the US Embassy and the British High Commission in Dhaka have strongly condemned the series of bomb blasts that rocked the country yesterday.

In a statement issued in New Delhi yesterday, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We have seen reports relating to the hundreds of explosions all over Bangladesh which have injured dozens of people, some seriously. The scale and co-ordination of these explosions countrywide raises a number of questions."

Spokesperson Navtej Sarna in the statement said, "Our sympathies go out to the victims and their families. We have no reports of injuries to Indian citizens as yet. Our diplomatic personnel are all safe."

The BDNews adds: In a statement, the US Embassy said, they strongly condemn the bomb blasts that occurred throughout Bangladesh yesterday morning and extend their condolences to the families and friends of those who were injured or lost their lives.

The random nature of these blasts underscores the savagery of terrorism and the global dimensions of this terrible scourge for people from all religions and all walks of life, it said.

"We hope the Bangladesh government will succeed in bringing to justice the perpetrators and organisers of this heinous crime," said the US Embassy.

A British High Commission spokesperson told the news agency that they were aware of the incident and condemned "all acts of terrorism."

"We are in touch with the Bangladesh authorities. We are urgently trying to establish whether any British nationals were affected."

UND adds: The government of eastern Indian state of West Bengal yesterday issued a fresh alert in border districts following a series of blasts in Bangladesh.

West Bengal's IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told PTI that an alert has been in force in the state since the Independence Day. A fresh alert was issued following the blasts in Dhaka and other places.

Kanojia said that state police was in constant touch with the BSF for intensifying patrols in areas along the Indo-Bangla border.

Our Staff Correspondent adds: Chinese Vice-Premier Huang Ju has expressed condolences to the victims of bomb attacks in Bangladesh.

He expressed the condolence during his meeting with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is now in Beijing on a five-day official visit that began yesterday.