Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding the Government has allocated to promote (a) freedom of expression, (b) rights to peaceful protest and (c) democratic engagement in Bangladesh in each of the last five years.
DFID Bangladesh has allocated GBP 8.38 million on democratic engagement over the last five years (2014-2018) through phases 1 and 2 of the Strengthening Political Participation Programme. The annual expenditure is as follows:
Year | Amount in GBP |
2014 (SPP I) | 16,456.33 |
2015 (SPP I) | 2,132,855.88 |
2016 (SPP I) | 1,062,532.94 |
2017 (SPP II) | 1,817,969.83 |
2018 (SPP II) | 3,357,854.96 |
Total | 8,387,669.94 |
FCO Funding to the organisation Article 19 Bangladesh has supported freedom of expression. This included: £64,284 2014-15 to support freedom of expression; £10,000 in 2016 to support freedom of expression for sexual minorities; and £199,964 to support protection of freedom of expression for journalists and social media commentators 2016 – 2018.
We do not currently fund any programmes specifically addressing the right to Freedom of Assembly or peaceful protest.