B'desh urges citizens to stop attack on properties, appeals for peace

Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus on Friday called for peace and urged citizens to immediately restore law and order, putting an end to the three-day mayhem of attacks on properties belonging to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's family and leaders of her party Awami League.The interim government on Thursday blamed Hasina's "provocative" speech for sparking "unintended and unexpected" violence.
Violence has erupted in Bangladesh since Wednesday night with mobs targeting supporters of Hasina, vandalizing their homes and businesses across the country. Thousands of protesters also set fire to the 32 Dhanmondi residence of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Rahman had spearheaded the country's autonomy movement and independence struggle from this residence, which was later transformed into a memorial. This historic residence was where Rahman proclaimed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.
A press statement issued by Yunus' office said that the Chief Adviser "calls on all citizens to immediately restore complete law and order and to ensure there will be no further attacks on properties associated with the family of Sheikh Hasina and politicians of the fascist Awami League party or against any citizen on any pretext”. The statement said despite its understanding of the activists' anger against the ousted premier, the “government appeals to the citizens to abide by the law to show the world we are a nation that respects of the rule of law”.
Yunus in the statement said the interim government is working with the security forces to preserve law and order and to protect the lives and property of all Bangladeshis. “If any attempt is made to destabilise the country through any kind of provocative activities, law enforcement agencies will immediately take strict action against anyone acting to create chaos and anarchy, which emphatically includes the destruction of property,” he said. The leaders of the “fascist regime” left the country and “they have no chance to come back as long as we remain alert and retain the moral high ground”, the statement said.