Britain’s Minister of State for Foreign Office Hugo Swire has called for dialogue between the political parties in Bangladesh to end the current impasse in the country and stressed that violence and vandalism can never be the language of protest.He made the call during a debate in the British Parliament on the recent political unrest and violence in Bangladesh on Tuesday (local time).
Bangladesh-born British MP Rushanara Ali initiated the debate and was followed by Chair of the Britain-Bangladesh All Party Parliamentary Group Anne Main, MP Jim Fitzpatrick and MP Rehman Chishti.
Bangladeshi High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Mohamed Mijarul Quayes was present during the debate.
The debate took place at the House of Commons in Westminster.
Hugo Swire expressed concern over the recent violence and loss of lives in Bangladesh after Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced to death on charges of war crime committed during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.
The British minister also expressed concern over attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Promising all sorts of assistance for a free and fair election in Bangladesh he said. “We think, political dispute has to be resolved in parliamentary discussions, not on streets.”
Swire hoped that the political parties would be able to resolve the current impasse and the civil society would contribute towards paving a way for talks.
In her inaugural speech, Rushanara Ali expressed concerns over the recent attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus and urged the government to take necessary steps for protecting them.
“Just like police were killed in Bangladesh, at the same time concerns were also focused on use of excessive force by law enforcers,” she said highlighting the importance of restrain from all sides.
“Shutdowns are affecting business and lifestyle. The reputation of Bangladesh is now at stake.”
She expressed concerns over the arrest of British-Bangladeshi Nur-e-Alam Hamidi, a resident of London’s West Ham area.
Hamidi was nabbed during an anti-Ganajagaran Mancha procession in Dhaka on Feb 22. Police and journalists came under assault from the procession.
Local dailies in Bangladesh reported that Hamidi is a leader of the Islami Oikkajote and he had gone to Dhaka from the UK to protest against the movement launched at Shahbagh demanding capital punishment for war criminals and a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami.
(Source: bdnews24.com)
