Staff Reporter :Bangladesh politics of confrontation and hatred is hitting the horizon beyond its border. Opposition BNP activists protested in front of British parliament in London during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to the House of Commons annoying the British MPs by the event. The opposition activists wanted to inform the British MPs of the state of democracy and human rights in Bangladesh by their protest, which were also, met by counter protest by ruling Party Awami League activists in London and elsewhere. British MPs have expressed concern over the series of protests staged by the UK unit of the BNP during Sheikh Hasina’s visit to London. They were particularly concerned at the conflicts between activists of opposition BNP and ruling AL in front of the British House of Commons. The members of parliament noted with alarm that the hostile relation between the two leading parties is now crossing the geographical boundary of Bangladesh and spreading among their supporters all over the world.The parliamentarians raised their concern during a debate titled “Bangladesh and its future” at the Westminster hall of the House of Commons on Wednesday.Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh Anne Main moderated the debate. Eight of the 20 British MPs who were present there took part in the debate.However, none of the three Bangladeshi-origin British MPs – Rushnara Ali, Tulip Siddique and Rupa Hauqe – were present.State minister of foreign and commonwealth office Hugo Swire answered the questions the MPs raised.Hugo Swire said following the anniversary of the controversial 5 January polls, hundreds of people have lost their lives due to the political turmoil. The UK has asked both of the rival parties to resolve their disputes amicably. he added.He pointed out that the city corporation ballot, which was reportedly widely rigged, was another missed opportunity of bringing back political stability in Bangladesh.He also referred to the recent consecutive incidents of blogger murders and extra-judicial killings.Hugo Swire said there is no mentionable success in the area of freedom of the speech in the country.Regarding the death sentence of convicted war criminal and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Swire said, “UK does not support death penalty under any circumstance.”On a positive note, he said that the UK welcomes Indian premier Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh tour, and the land swap deal will bring an end to the sufferings of thousands of people.On the introductory speech of the debate, Anne Main mentioned political conflict as the major problem for Bangladesh. The BNP’s political involvement has gradually decreased following the abolishment of the caretaker government, she added.Bangladesh does not have the history of non-violent, fair elections, but the recent city corporation polls were the saddest of them all, she said.Mentioning corruption as another major concern for Bangladesh, she insisted that the amount of grant-say around 250 million pound steling-the UK govenment gives to Bangladesh every year must be utilised properly.MP of British Labour Party Jim Fitzpatrick said the UK wants to see Bangladesh as a secular democracy. He said Islamic Forum of Europe, a radical religious organisation, is a wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Both the BNP and the AL have history of affiliating with Jamaat for their political motivation, he added.Labour MP Kerri McCarthy said, Bangladesh has a number of remarkable achievements, but the country needs democracy.Many of the MPs mentioned the incidents of harassments and torture on the minority communities and called on immediate action for their protection.They also urged fair trial for BNP chief Khaleda Zia on the charges of violence filed by the government.The debate also focused on the rights of RMG workers, child labour, child marriage, climate control and the recent Rohinga crisis and human trafficking issues as well.
