Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, with international partners, to monitor the forthcoming general election in Bangladesh.

The British Government has consistently made the case for international independent oversight of the election and the EU has agreed to send an Election Expert Mission. The UK will also support local observation of the general election through a Department for International Development-funded programme.

I am clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and inclusive election in Bangladesh and Ministers and officials in our High Commission in Dhaka have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, raised his concerns regarding the election with Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, in a call on 1 November. As did I when I spoke to him on the 23 November. The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembly in New York