A senior leader of the opposition party in UK has questioned the British Parliament on the alleged violence on the Hindus and other religious minorities in Bangladesh, and has called on the Labour government to take a diplomatic action to force the interim government in Bangladesh to guarantee protection of the minority groups and fair elections.
The issue was also raised by Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman in a speech to Parliament and he urged the UK government to conduct negotiations with the government headed by Mohammad Yunus and extract hard promises to protect minority rights and embrace democratic values. His comments precede national elections in Bangladesh to be held in February 12 which he alleged are being conducted under grave democratic issues.
Blackman highlighted that the Awami league, which was led by former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has been disqualified to participate in the elections whilst it is reported to have a huge following. He observed that the lock-out of one of the most significant political parties questions the electoral process in terms of its fairness and inclusiveness.
Focusing on the violence cases, Blackman reported that the Hindu minority are being attacked, homes and temples are being burned, and persecution of other religious minorities is being experienced. He also threatened of an increasing power of Islamist groups that he says, extremist groups are pushing towards a constitutional referendum that could radically change the secular system in Bangladesh.
The MP required the UK Foreign Secretary to explain what the Labor government plans to do to support the minority to be safe and to conduct free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
Since Sheikh Hasina was forced out of power through violent demonstrations last year, Bangladesh has been a politically volatile country. She is in exile spending her time in India, and the transition is being managed by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, and supported by the military. It has been reported that a court in Bangladesh has sentenced Hasina to death on alleged crimes against humanity further escalating political instability in the country.
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