Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department supports an (a) impartial, (b) independent and (c) transparent investigation into alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and human rights in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has been deeply saddened by the violence and loss of life in Bangladesh. The interim government has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary State for Business and Trade speak regularly on a range of issues. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme for serious and systemic violations of human rights, labour rights and environmental obligations. We are monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely and raising matters regularly with the Government of Bangladesh in London and via our High Commission in Dhaka.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK has provided training to the (a) Bangladeshi police, (b) Bangladeshi military and (c) Rapid Action Battalion.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers expressed concern at the violence used by the police against largely peaceful protests in July 2024. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The interim government has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order. The UK has provided short term training to sections of the police in Bangladesh. The UK has provided professional military education to Bangladesh military officers as part of our defence relationship. The UK does not currently provide training to the Rapid Action Battalion.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on reports of (a) violence towards protestors, (b) unlawful killings, (c) torture, (d) the shutting down of the internet and mobile services and (e) other forms of repression in that country.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Bangladeshi counterparts on the (a) student protests and (b) human rights situation in that country; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Independent - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the number of (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) refugee camps in Gaza that have been struck by bombs since 8 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
It is clear that the international community will need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza
All parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. Hamas is putting Palestinian civilians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and civilian infrastructure.
We also want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have underlined the need for Israel to increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza, deconflict with the UN and aid agencies, protect civilians and repair vital infrastructure like hospitals and water networks.