Dhaka, Mar 25: Renewing its call for an immediate end to the Iraq war, Bangladesh has urged American and British troops to avoid any "firing or attack" on holy places there even as several hundred demonstrators protested the US-led attack and asked people to boycott Anglo-American products. "They (US-UK) have to prove that their war in Iraq is not directed against Islam," Bangladesh foreign minister Morshed Khan told British High Commissioner David Carter yesterday.
"Iraq is a country where many holy shrines and religious places of Muslims are located," a foreign ministry spokesman quoted Khan as telling Carter.
Khan said "protection of these shrines and places should be ensured. There should not be any firing or attack on them.... special care must be taken in such places."
He also said that all efforts should be made to bring an end to the war in Iraq immediately.
Meanwhile, a group of women protestors, who were obstructed by police to demonstrate before US embassy here, urged people to boycott US and UK products. The demonstrators under banner of Sanmilito Nari Samaj (united women community) also urged the government to close down the two missions.
The Bangladesh government has, meanwhile, curtailed the celebrations of 32nd Independence Day because of the Iraq war.
The curtailment of expenditure made at the directive of premier Khalida Zia will result in cancellation of many programmes includes 31 gun salute heralding the dawn of March 26, the day in 1971 when people were asked to wage war against Pakistan occupation army, vernacular daily 'Janakantha' said.
The daily star quoting a minister who did not want to be named said "war in Iraq forced the government to cut short the programmes" of Independence Day. Bureau Report