Jamaat ‘sorry’ for US embassy vehicle attack

US Ambassador Dan Mozena attends an Iftar-dinner in Dhaka hosted by Jamaat-e-Islami on July 22, 2012.

Dhaka, Dec 4 (bdnews24.com)—Jamaat-e-Islami on Tuesday took responsibility for the attack its supporters made on a US Embassy vehicle in Dhaka during the shutdown and offered apology.

The activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir have been damaging public property for days and then vandalised and torched vehicles through the day countrywide shutdown. But the party only apologised for this incident.

“On 4th December, at around 8.45 AM, a US Embassy motor pool vehicle was attacked by a crowd causing minor injuries to the driver and damage to the vehicle,” read the press statement posted on the official website of the party whose top leadership is currently behind bars on charge of committing crimes against humanity.

“After carrying out a preliminary inquiry into the matter, we accept responsibility for this unfortunate incident, which is the first of its kind. We condemn it. We offer our apologies to the US Embassy and to the victims and will provide compensation,” the statement continued.

The website attributed the statement to their Acting Secretary General Md Shafiqur Rahman.

Jamaat enforced the strike to demand release of its leaders standing trial for war crimes at International Crime Tribunals.

Its activists have been clashing with police since last month to press home their demand, and never regretted even after setting a policeman afire.

The US Embassy last month asked the Bangladesh government to sit in dialogue with Jamaat to end the confrontation.

The suggestion caused ire among people and the government rejected it outright.

Source: Bd news24