As Bangladesh officially condemned the controversial movie that sparked angry protests in many countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the U.S. government to immediately stop sales and screening of the film.
Urging the U.S. government for exemplary punishment to the filmmaker, she remarked, “No Muslim can tolerate such defamation of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM).” She said they were devoted to serving Islam and would not accept any activity undermining its spirit.
The Bangladeshi Prime Minister also condemned the “terrorists” who resorted to murder, bombing and anarchy across the country “ in the name of Islam” before her government assumed office. Her government, she said, dealt with the terrorists with a strong hand. “Now Bangladesh is considered as a model of religious harmony all over the world,” she added.Following the fury over an anti-Islam film targeting American diplomatic missions, killing scores of people including Americans in several countries, Islamists in Bangladesh paraded in the streets of Dhaka chanting anti-US slogans. However, the protestors, who burnt U.S. flags, were not allowed by police to proceed to the U.S. Embassy in the capital.
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The authorities have also tightened the security for the U.S Embassy and other western embassies intensifying vigilance.
Last week, Dhaka had officially condemned the release of the film, The Innocence of Muslims , telling that the video was not only offensive, but also reprehensible. “Such disregard for the religious sensitivity of Muslims, or of any faith, cannot constitute civilised behaviour and must not be condoned,” a foreign office statement said.