Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Bangladesh on (a) possible human rights violations against protestors and (b) future protection of students.

I discussed my concerns regarding the violence in Bangladesh following protests with the Bangladesh High Commissioner to London on 19 and 23 July. The British High Commissioner has engaged with key ministers in the Bangladesh government to reinforce messages on de-escalation and the need for constructive dialogue to reduce tensions. The rights to protest, to peacefully assemble and to express different political views are rights the UK holds dear and must be protected. We will continue to raise the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law with the Bangladesh government.