United Kingdom Member of Parliament Bob Blackman voiced concerns over the current situation in Bangladesh, where minorities are being attacked and killed.
In a speech in the House of Commons, the MP also raises concerns about the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, which have been scheduled for February 12, amid the banning of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League, and religious extremists seeking to amend the constitution of the country, NDTV reported.
What did Bob Blackman say?
The Conservative MP said in the House, "At the pre-recess adjournment debate, I raised the situation in Bangladesh, and the Leader of the House quite rightly wrote to the Foreign Secretary about the disastrous situation there. Hindu men are being murdered on the streets; their houses are being burnt; the temples are being burnt; and other religious minorities are suffering similar fates."
Blackman added, "Next month, there are due to be so-called free and fair elections. The Awami League, which is a major political party in Bangladesh, is banned from competing in those elections, despite commanding about 30 per cent in the opinion polls. Equally, the Islamic extremists have called for a referendum which would change the constitution of Bangladesh forever."
The Member of Parliament for Harrow East asked for a statement from the government and the Foreign Ministry on the actions that the UK government is planning to take to ensure the safety of members of the minority community in Bangladesh, and also on how the British government is going to make sure that the upcoming elections in Bangladesh will be free and fair.
UK lawmakers express concern for situation in Bangladesh
Four UK Members of Parliament, including Blackman, had issued a statement last week on the democratic situation in Bangladesh, where Muhammad Yunus's interim government has banned major political organisations before the general elections are due to be conducted in February. They said that the move to ban political parties goes against the guidance of the United Nations, as well as the United Kingdom, NDTV reported.
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Three lawmakers from across parties, namely Jim Shannon, Jas Athwal, and Chris Law, had joined Blackman in the joint statement. They raised concerns that elections held amid the banning of major political players cannot be termed 'democratic'.
