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 the Government of Bangladesh following reports of killings and mob violence against members of the Hindu community in connection with allegations of blasphemy; and what steps he is taking to encourage effective investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The UK condemns all acts of violence targeting religious or ethnic minorities in Bangladesh. We continue to raise the importance of protecting minority communities with the Government of Bangladesh. On 4 October, the British High Commissioner raised this with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, including the importance of ensuring communities always feel safe, including during the Durga Puja festival. We encourage the Government of Bangladesh to ensure incidents of violence are investigated impartially and that those responsible are held to account.