Bangladeshi who have been residing in the UAE for many years have called on their compatriots to maintain communal peace and not express support for political parties in their home country.
A caretaker government is likely to be formed after the military announced its resignation following weeks of anti-government protests that led to the flight of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In the UAE, the Bangladeshi embassy in Abu Dhabi issued a statement calling for calm.
“All Bangladeshis in the UAE are urged to exercise utmost restraint, maintain calm, live in peace and harmony and abide by the laws and regulations of their host country,” the embassy said.
She posted a message on social media, reminding that under UAE law, rallies, processions and shouting slogans are prohibited without permission from authorities.
The embassy also warned that recording videos of protests or distributing them on social media is prohibited.
“We have issued advisories to stop our from taking part in illegal activities in the UAE,”
“They must be peaceful, live in peace with other and have great respect for the laws here.”
The embassy contacted its after a group of Bangladeshis organised a demonstration in the UAE last month to protest against the government’s protest policy.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced three Bangladeshis to life imprisonment for inciting mass protests, while 53 others were given 10 years each and another 11 years in prison for entering the country illegally to take part in protests.
Violence erupts in Bangladesh amid student protests and detentions against the government’s job quota system. Airlines that cancelled flights to Dhaka and Chittagong on Monday and Tuesday included Emirates and Flydubai. They cited the violence and said they were monitoring the situation.
LIVING IN PEACE
In the United Arab Emirates, residents who have called the country home for decades have spoken out against the violence that has taken to the streets.
Residents who responded to a plea for calm in The Nation asked that their full names not be published.
“There has to be peace. That’s the only way,” said H. Rashid, a businessman who has lived in Dubai for more than 30 years.
“I told my employees that we are guests in this country.
“I tell them to pray for Bangladesh, but not to protest or take to the streets here. It’s not allowed.
“We see in the news how Bangladeshi people are burning buildings and destroying property, and all this destruction is wrong.
“Besides, we are foreigners here and this is a faraway political issue. We should not interfere.”
This was echoed by Abdul, a transport worker who contacted his family in Bangladesh to reassure them that they were safe.
“My son is a student so I have told him to stay home or go back to his village,” said Abdul, who has lived in the UAE for more than 10 years.
“I follow the news often and am confident that the army will keep the peace until a new government is formed.
“I just want my wife and kids to be safe at home.
“Here in the UAE I tell my friends: ‘Let’s not talk about politics, we’ve come to work.’
“This political issue is not here, it’s within the country.”
“I don’t think there is any room for chaos in the UAE. We have to live peacefully with other people and just get on with our work.”
Another Bangladeshi resident who has lived in the UAE for more than 40 years said there is no place for violence in the community.
“We came here to make money, not to talk politics,” said the man, who asked not to be named.
“We have been away for a long time but we hope good things will happen in Bangladesh.
“We just need to focus on spreading peace and tranquility.”
