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Bata has denounced the vandalism of several of its stores in Bangladesh during Monday’s nationwide protests held in solidarity with the global strike for Palestine.
In a statement, the multinational footwear company said: “We are aware of inaccurate claims suggesting that Bata is an Israeli owned company or has political affiliations in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.”
“Bata Globally is a privately held, 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,” it added.
According to the statement, Bata has been serving Bangladesh since 1962, with a strong commitment to quality, and respect for all communities.
Protests erupted in Bangladesh on Monday, with mobs targeting 'Israeli-linked businesses', such as Bata, KFC and Pizza Hut in Bogra, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar and other districts, condemning Israeli aggression in Gaza and demanding a product boycott.
In protest against the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and to demand a boycott of Israeli products, a large number of students and crowds gathered in Bogra city for a demonstration.