In a recent statement, United Kingdom lawmaker Bob Blackman expressed alarm over what he described as a “disastrous situation” in Bangladesh. He cited escalating violence against minorities, especially Hindus, alleging that they are being murdered on the streets and that their houses and temples are being set on fire.
What did Blackman say in Parliament?
UK lawmaker Bob Blackman warned that the February 12 national elections in Bangladesh are taking place amid democratic concerns, with the ousted premier Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, one of the country’s major political parties, being barred from participating.
The Awami League was banned as Islamic extremists pushed for a referendum to amend the country’s constitution.
“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,” he said.
“Next month, there are supposed 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 that would change the constitution of Bangladesh forever,” he added.
What question was raised by the UK government?
While discussing Bangladesh, the British parliamentarian also called on the Foreign Secretary to issue a statement, raising questions about what actions the UK government will take to safeguard minorities and ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections in the South Asian nation.
Previous concerns of the UK government
Last week, four UK parliamentarians expressed serious concerns about the ban on Hasina’s Awami League under the Muhammad Yunus- led interim government in Bangladesh. Ahead of the February polls, they stated that the move disregards guidance from the United Nations, as well as from the UK and other longstanding allies of the South Asian nation.
In a joint statement, British lawmakers from across party lines, including Bob Blackman, Jim Shannon, Jas Athwal, and Chris Law, asserted that the Yunus-led “unelected” interim government should not have imposed such restrictions on Bangladeshi voters. They further warned that any election held without the participation of major political parties cannot be considered democratic.
