No progress in Bangladesh HR situation: UK

The United Kingdom has said there was ‘no improvement’ in the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the first six months of the current year, reports UNB. “Looking ahead to the second half of 2016, we want Bangladesh to develop into an economically successful country that maintains its Bengali tradition of respect and tolerance for all people of all faiths and backgrounds,” said the British government in its updated report.
It said an effective justice system, vibrant civil society, free media and freedom to hold authority to account remain important as Bangladesh heads towards a middle-income status, and fully graduates from the least developed country status.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its report ‘People’s Republic of Bangladesh - Human Rights Priority Country’ on July 21.
The report said extremist attacks on minority groups and threats against secular bloggers continued and then Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the global increase of extremism and the spread of attacks in Bangladesh with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, when they met at the G7 meeting on May 27.
It said the UK continues to support and promote freedom of expression and protection for those who exercise it in Bangladesh, including through a new programme funded by the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy.
The British High Commission is also working closely with international partners in Bangladesh to support those under threat from extremist attacks, such as providing information on help available from local, regional and international non-governmental organisations.
“We continue to urge the government of Bangladesh to ensure that those carrying out extremist attacks are held to account, that life is protected and that the right to justice and free speech for all Bangladeshis is upheld,” the report read.
The municipal elections, which ended in May and were held on party lines for the first time, saw significant levels of violence, the report observed. Some 116 people were reported killed, mainly as the result of intra-party clashes it said mentioning, “There were also concerns around the role of the Election Commission who, it is alleged, failed to address reports of groups and individuals breaking election rules.”

No progress in Bangladesh HR situation: UK

The United Kingdom has said there was no improvement in the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the first six months of the current year, reports UNB. Looking ahead to the second half of 2016, we want Bangladesh to develop into an economically successful country that maintains its Bengali tradition of respect and tolerance for all people of all faiths and backgrounds, said the British government in its updated report. It said an effective justice system, vibrant civil society, free media and freedom to hold authority to account remain important as Bangladesh heads towards a middle-income status, and fully graduates from the least developed country status. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its report Peoples Republic of Bangladesh - Human Rights Priority Country on July 21. The report said extremist attacks on minority groups and threats against secular bloggers continued and then Prime Minister David Cameron discussed the global increase of extremism and the spread of attacks in Bangladesh with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, when they met at the G7 meeting on May 27. It said the UK continues to support and promote freedom of expression and protection for those who exercise it in Bangladesh, including through a new programme funded by the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy. The British High Commission is also working closely with international partners in Bangladesh to support those under threat from extremist attacks, such as providing information on help available from local, regional and international non-governmental organisations. We continue to urge the government of Bangladesh to ensure that those carrying out extremist attacks are held to account, that life is protected and that the right to justice and free speech for all Bangladeshis is upheld, the report read. The municipal elections, which ended in May and were held on party lines for the first time, saw significant levels of violence, the report observed. Some 116 people were reported killed, mainly as the result of intra-party clashes it said mentioning, There were also concerns around the role of the Election Commission who, it is alleged, failed to address reports of groups and individuals breaking election rules.