Twelve western countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada and the Delegation of European Union to Bangladesh on Wednesday condemned the recent attack on Dhaka-17 constituency independent candidate Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam during the polling.
In a joint statement signed by the embassies/the high commissions of the countries and the EU delegation in Dhaka, they also called for a full investigation into the incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice, saying that violence had no place in the democratic process.
‘We condemn the July 17 attack on Dhaka-17 constituency candidate Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam. Violence has no place in the democratic process. We call for a full investigation and accountability for the perpetrators,’ said the statement.
It mentioned that everyone involved in the upcoming elections should ensure that they were free, fair and peaceful.
The signatories to the statement included the embassies/high commissions of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Hero Alam was allegedly beaten by the ruling Awami League activists in the presence of the police at the Banani Bidyaniketan School polling centre during the Dhaka-17 by-election.
The AL candidate won the by-election and Hero Alam was his nearest contestant.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United Nations in Bangladesh expressed concern over the attack while the United States of America called for holding the perpetrators to account.
