‘Hindus being murdered, temples burned’: UK condemns violence in Bangladesh, calls for credible elections

The UK government has condemned “all forms of violence” in Bangladesh and urged the holding of peaceful and credible elections after concerns over the killing of Hindus and other religious minorities were raised in the House of Commons.

Opposition Conservative MP Bob Blackman pressed the Labour government on Thursday to step in to protect minority communities and ensure that elections scheduled for February are conducted in a “free and fair” manner. Raising the issue during a parliamentary exchange, Blackman said he was deeply alarmed by what he described as a deteriorating situation on the ground.

Blackman, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus, told fellow MPs that he was “horrified” by reports of violence against Hindus, including killings and attacks on homes and places of worship.

“Hindu men are being killed on the streets, their homes are being set on fire, temples are being burned, and other religious minorities are facing similar attacks,” he said.

Referring to the upcoming polls, Blackman said elections billed as free and fair were due next month, even as the Awami League — a major political party — has been barred from participating despite commanding around 30 percent support in opinion polls. He also warned that Islamic extremist groups had called for a referendum that could permanently alter Bangladesh’s constitution.

Blackman urged Leader of the House Alan Campbell to raise the matter with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and asked for clarity on what steps the UK was taking to ensure inclusive elections and safeguard minority rights.

Responding on behalf of the government, Campbell said the UK was actively engaged with the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh and was supporting the interim administration in its efforts to deliver credible and peaceful elections.

He reaffirmed Britain’s long-standing commitment to human rights, saying the government continued to convey these concerns to Bangladesh’s interim authorities. “We condemn all acts of violence, whether religiously or ethnically motivated, and we welcome the interim head of government Muhammad Yunus’s assurances regarding the safety of minorities, including actions taken where arrests have been made,” Campbell said.

Campbell added that he would draw the Foreign Secretary’s attention to Blackman’s statement and said the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office would consider issuing a formal response at an appropriate time.

Blackman’s remarks follow a letter sent last week by Conservative shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel to Yvette Cooper, in which she described the situation in Bangladesh as “very concerning” and called for UK intervention amid a reported rise in violence.

“Religious freedoms must be protected. The killings of Hindus and the persecution taking place are wrong and must end,” Patel said, urging the UK government to use its diplomatic influence to promote stability and protect minority communities.

British Hindu organisations, led by the Bengali Hindu Adarsha Sangha UK, have also organised protests in London against the violence in Bangladesh. Demonstrators have condemned what they describe as the unethical arrest of interfaith leader Chinmaya Prabhu, the public lynching of Dipu Das by Islamic extremists, and other reported attacks emerging from Dhaka.

With inputs from agencies