Bangladesh eminent persons, groups slam attempts to boycott Beijing Olympics

DHAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Association (BCFA) on Sunday condemned the attempts by some western countries to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games to be held in August.

BCFA's Acting President Mahbubul Rahman said the recent violence in Tibet was "undoubtedly pre-planned, well calculated and mischievously motivated."

The purpose is to damage the image of China and undermine the Beijing Olympics, Rahman told a "One-China Policy" seminar in Dhaka.

"We can't accept it and strongly condemn it," he said.

Former vice chancellor of Dhaka University Emajuddin Ahmed said the Tibet issue belongs to China's internal affairs. Some countries' efforts to make an issue out of Tibet are doomed to failure, he said.

Reauddin Ahmed, editor of Bangladesh's English daily The News Today, said the Olympics is a big event for sports-loving and peace-loving people across the world.

The world condemns those who want to damage the Olympics, he said.

President of the Bangladesh National Press Club, Shaukat Mahmood, said the Olympics is a sport event which should not be politicized.

Participants at the seminar wished the Beijing Olympics a great success and expressed their hopes that China could realize its unification at an early date.