Eggs hurled at Advisor Mahfuj's convoy in London

Information and Broadcasting Advisor Mahfuj Alam has faced hostility while attending official engagements in London, with supporters of the Awami League accused of targeting his convoy.

Akbar Hossain, press minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, shed light on the incident in a statement issued on Facebook on Friday, reports bdnews24.com.

He said Mahfuj attended two pre-scheduled events in the city. The first, held at 4:00 pm at the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS), marked the one-year anniversary of the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh and was jointly organised by SOAS and the Bangladesh mission.

According to Akbar, 18 Awami League activists gathered outside SOAS, chanting slogans, but the advisor’s car faced no obstacles reaching the venue. Police had already put in place strict security measures at SOAS’s request.

After the advisor and other officials entered the building, however, "miscreants" threw eggs at cars waiting in the parking area, said Akbar.

When the event ended, Mahfuj and the officials left in several cars.

Later, as the delegation departed in multiple vehicles, two empty high commission cars were again pelted with eggs. A small group also lay down on the road in an attempt to block them, but were removed by the police.

Mahfuj subsequently attended a second event at the Bangladesh High Commission at 7:30 pm, where representatives of political parties, students and journalists were in attendance.

Akbar said London’s Metropolitan Police have been in constant contact with the High Commission and assured them of full security for the advisor.

Clips circulating on social media show parts of the incident.

In one clip, agitators are seen hurling eggs at the cars while directing abuse at the advisor.

In another, several bystanders are seen filming as a vehicle, purportedly carrying Mahfuj, passes by. A few men suddenly step into the road to block the car’s progress, with one approaching the side window to peer inside. Shouts of “catch him” can also be heard before police officers intervene, pushing the agitators aside as the vehicle pulls away.

The incident follows an earlier episode in New York last month, when Bangladesh’s Consulate General said that Mahfuj had been harassed by Awami League supporters while entering its premises. The mission said it had sought action from local police, the mayor’s office and the US State Department in response.