Bangladesh: Resolution for immediate lift of emergency rule passed in the House of Lords

A seminar was held on Friday June 27 in the House of Lords to discuss the election process of Bangladesh’s present caretaker government and their dialogue with the political parties.

The seminar, chaired by Lord Avebury - Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, was attended by Awami League’s leader Saber Hossain Chowdhury, ex - minister and political secretary to ex Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to exchange views and share Awami League's perspectives with concerns regarding dialogue with the caretaker government. Speakers welcomed positive developments, including the timely completion of the

electoral register, but there were concerns that holding Upazila elections (the lowest tier of local government outside the cities) before the national elections could give the present government the power to control management of the national elections. It was agreed that there can be no fair and free election under the current state of emergency and a resolution was passed unanimously calling for the immediate lifting of emergency rule. It was agreed that a delegation of Members of the UK and European Parliaments would seek a meeting with Lord Malloch-Brown, the Foreign Office Minister who deals with Bangladesh, to exchange views on the electoral preparations and identify further assistance the UK might usefully provide, in the light of this discussion.

Concern was expressed about the mass arrests of political activists, many of who have been tortured. Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch, condemned the latest anti terror law that is violating fundamental freedom and fair trial rights. Raising the obvious yet crucial question referring to the government’s continuous denial of human rights abuse, GHRD’s Human Rights Officer Jenny Lundström said: “I think the question of recognition must be raised. As long as the government refuses to even acknowledge that there are human rights violations taking place, then how can we even talk about achieving political reconciliation?” In response to this, another participant, a human rights lawyer commented afterwards: “I was impressed by your stand; it was only 'puritan stand' in that day from human rights perspectives. Your position regarding violations of human rights and the refusal by High Commission was important. The standing of your organisation and yourself is praiseworthy.”

Md Iqbal Hussain Khan, First Sec, Bangladesh High Commission did not make any statements, nor did he explain the government’s refusal to end the state of emergency.

IBF Press release

List of participants