Diplomatic Correspondent

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth, a multi-party group in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, has prepared a report on Bangladesh.

In the report, the APPG expressed concern over the current situation in Bangladesh. The published report has been sent to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

A report in the UK-based media outlet The Independent was published on Monday (October 25).

The report said that despite the violence and instability, the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government brought joy and hope to many. However, more than 2,000 incidents of violence have been recorded in Bangladesh since the fall of the Hasina government. The current government (interim government) has 'weaponized' the justice system to take revenge.

The APPG also said in the report that we have found evidence that raises questions about the effectiveness of the current interim government. The culture of using the law as a political weapon needs to end immediately. Human rights and the rule of law must be maintained. Failure to do so will not be good for the image of Dr. Muhammad Yunus' interim government.

The report raises questions about the credibility of the murder cases, the security situation, the persecution of minorities, the lack of rule of law, the rise of Islamic extremists, and other issues.

Questions about credibility of the murder cases : :

The parliamentary group said it had received information that murder cases were being filed against former ministers, members of parliament, Awami League leaders, former judges, intellectuals, lawyers and journalists in "such a number" that "their credibility is being questioned."

Citing a report by the Daily Star newspaper, the group also said that criminal cases have been filed against about 194,000 people associated with the Awami League. Of these, 26,268 people have been named and about 168,000 have been left unnamed. In addition, cases have been filed against many journalists and prominent figures. Their arrests are also underway.

Security situation :

The report notes that the security situation in some parts of Bangladesh remains extremely dangerous three months after the formation of the interim government. There is evidence that rioters have attacked private homes, businesses, carried out violent attacks and committed murders. Although the new government is determined to restore law and order, the security situation in different regions may vary.

100 expatriates from around the world, including the UK, US, Canada and Australia, have sent a joint letter. In the letter, they expressed concern about attacks on students, doctors and teachers and the rise of religious extremism. Although they did not directly blame the interim government, they noted that the government is not doing enough to prevent human rights violations.

Opposition media freedom has increased since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. This is positive. However, journalists who were considered loyal to the previous government are currently at risk of arrest.

Persecution of minorities :

There is evidence that religious and other minorities have been subjected to persecution since the change of government, although this varies by region. In addition, there is a discrepancy between the actual events and media reports. The Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK) said restrictions on their religious freedom had been imposed following the recent violence. There was also evidence of attacks on indigenous people living in the hilly areas of Chittagong, where rioters took advantage of the breakdown in law and order to target their property and communities.

Lack of rule of law :

While these attacks were not intentional, they could indicate tacit support if the interim government fails to bring the perpetrators to justice. The declaration of virtual impunity for those involved in the violence and protests announced on 15 October could further divide the tense situation and diminish hopes for justice for minorities.

Rise of Islamist extremism

There is evidence that the political influence and visibility of conservative Islamists has been growing since the fall of the Awami League government.

The report also raises concerns that the instability in Bangladesh could spill over into the UK. The reason for this is that according to the 2021 census in England and Wales, there are 644,881 British citizens of Bangladeshi origin, which is 1.1 percent of the total population. The number is not small.

APPG chairman Andrew Rossindale, Tory Party MP, said that this report will be sent to the government and development agencies involved in Bangladesh and the Commonwealth.

Incidentally, Tulip Rezwana Siddique, daughter of Sheikh Rehana, sister of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is the Treasury Minister in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet.