Bangladeshi community including the workers in Singapore are facing difficult situation after a good number Bangladeshi nationals were detained for interrogation in connection with a riot that took place in the island state for the first time in 30 years following death of an Indian on Sunday night.
The foreign ministry here in a statement said Tuesday that all the detained Bangladeshis were released after interrogation following steps taken by the Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore.
In the statement issued by the ministry's external publicity wing said Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore has strongly refuted some unsubstantiated and speculative reports in a section of Bangladesh media which stated that a Bangladeshi worker was hit by a bus that resulted in the incident in the country.
The Singaporean media and online reports said Singapore police arrested 27 South Asians including the two Bangladeshis in connection with the riot that started after the 33-year-old man was knocked down by a private bus in a district known as Little India.
According to available online reports, about 400 foreign workers took to the streets, hurling railings at police and torching police cars and an ambulance. At least 18 people were hurt, most of them police officers, before the violence was brought under control.
However, sources from Singapore said since the incident occurred, around 175 were rounded up from the spot as well as different dorms. Among them, 33 were Bangladeshis and the rest 140 Indians, and one, Malaysian and a Singaporean.
All the Bangladeshis were released.
Sources also said among 175, only 24 were brought to court on Tuesday to face formal charges and eight more still in custody for further questioning and all of them are from India.
Bangladesh community and High Commission sources said the Bangladeshi consulate office in Singapore responded to the incident immediately by sending an official to assess the situation and shared a statement with the foreign and home ministries of Singapore.
The High Commission in the statement which was shared in the local media denied the involvement of the Bangladeshis in the riot.
The Singaporean media also reported that the Singapore government has taken the incident seriously as it was the first rioting in Singapore in more than 30 years. As reported by BBC, Singapore Police commissioner Ng Joo Hee condemned it as "intolerable, wanton violence". "It is not the Singapore way," he added.
The outbreak of public disorder is rare in Singapore which is strictly governed with laws and compliance. The government, however, kept its rule relaxed unofficially in the entire Serangoon, China Town, Little India areas known as migrant workers' area on Sunday when hundreds of thousands of workers enjoyed week ends.
A Bangladeshi national involved in the remittance business told the FE over phone that there was no possibility of involvement of the Bangladeshi workers in the riot as it occurred in Race Course Road and Hampshire Road which were mostly dominated by Indian workers.
He also refuted the possibility of any unrest among the Bangladeshi workers with the arrest.
"Bangladesh workers usually roam around Serangoon during weekly holiday on Sunday. When the incident occurred, most of the Bangladeshi workers went back to their dormitories," he said on condition of anonymity as he may face interrogation by the Singapore government.
Mahbub uz Zaman, Bangladesh High Commissioner in Singapore, in the statement on Monday morning, called on the Bangladesh community to exercise utmost calm and restraint, and fully cooperate with the law enforcement agencies following the riot in the Little India district
He also rejected reports that the incident was fuelled by a bus accident involving a Bangladeshi worker.
Mr Zaman said: "I want to categorically state that as per available information, the news reports that appeared in a section of media and news involving a Bangladeshi worker is not based on facts."
"We are pledged and duty bound to help the authorities maintain rule of law, order and discipline in the society and community. This is necessary to maintain overall law and order, and also to ensure that the law enforcement agencies can carry out their duties and responsibilities."
The High Commission has taken measures to hold meetings with Singapore Bangladesh Society and the Singapore Business Chamber of Bangladesh and visit dormitories where the Bangladeshi workers are staying.
The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) has also, meanwhile called for its members to counsel their workforce to stay calm, maintain peace and order and not react to speculations.
SBF said it denounces the "unwarranted violence and blatant lawlessness" displayed at Sunday night's riot, which "shattered Singapore's image as a peaceful and harmonious city."
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to convene a Committee of Inquiry to look into the riot in Little India on Sunday night.
The committee will look into the factors that led to the incident and how the incident was handled on the ground. It will also review the current measures to manage areas where foreign workers congregate, whether they are adequate and how they can be improved.
The Bangladesh Mission in Singapore has already sought consular access from the authorities. Bangladesh High Commission is constantly monitoring the situation and maintaining close contact with the relevant authorities in Singapore, the Foreign Ministry statement also said.
Bangladeshis in S’pore facing difficult situation after riot
Munima Sultana | Published: December 11, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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