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Written question asked by David Ward (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 12 March 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 March 2015 (named day). It was answered by Lord Swire (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 March 2015 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Bangladesh

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to government and opposition in Bangladesh to help address the constitutional crisis in that country.

Answer

We are deeply concerned by the ongoing violence and political unrest in Bangladesh. We continue to call on all Bangladesh’s political parties to take the confidence-building measures necessary to stop the violence and ensure an inclusive and participatory political process.

I raised my concerns about the violence and shrinking of democratic space in Bangladesh with Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Bangladesh Parliament Speaker, during her visit to the UK on 9 March. I also raised these concerns, not least the reported office confinement of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Leader Khaleda Zia, when I met the Bangladesh Law Minister on 20 January 2015. I made a public statement reiterating these messages on 5 March. We are also encouraging the UN and others in the international community to play an active role.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
908150
Session
2014-15
Transferred
Yes
Unstarred
Yes
Subjects
Politics and government Bangladesh
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk