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Bata, a foreign-owned company, has strongly condemned the attacks on several of its outlets in Bangladesh during Monday's countrywide protests against the strikes in Palestine.
In an official statement, the multinational footwear brand addressed misinformation circulating online.
"We're aware of inaccurate claims suggesting that Bata has political affiliations in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Bata is a privately held globally and family-owned company founded in the Czech Republic, with no political ties to the conflict."
"It is deeply regrettable that some of our retail locations in Bangladesh have recently been subjected to vandalism apparently triggered by these false narratives," the statement reads.
The company emphasised its longstanding presence in the country, noting: "Bata has been serving Bangladesh since 1962, with a strong commitment to quality and respect for all communities."
Several outlets of the footwear brand in a few districts were vandalised when demonstrators protested against Israel's actions in Gaza and called for a boycott of Israeli-linked brands.
Businesses such as Bata, KFC and Pizza Hut were among those targeted.
In Bogura, thousands of protesters gathered Satmatha in the district town to denounce the violence in Gaza.
The demonstration which began with processions from various educational institutions converged on the town's central square.
During the demonstration, the protesters attacked a Bata outlet with bricks, shattering its glass walls.
Store employees quickly locked the outlet from the inside, managing to prevent further damage.
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