Labour’s Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali has today condemned the violence in Bangladesh.
The violence arose after the War Crimes Tribunal issued its first three verdicts, in which it found current leaders of the Jamaat Party guilty of war crimes, committed during the war of independence. The Tribunal handed out two death sentences and one of life imprisonment, which provoked demonstrations on the streets and strike action in protest by Jamaat Party members and others who saw the verdicts and sentences as politically motivated and handed down by a Tribunal which does not comply with the standards of international law. The police responded firmly and have been accused of brutality in trying to quell the disturbances. There were also counterdemonstrations, most notably in Shahbagh Square in Dhaka, where protestors indicated their support for the verdicts and demanded more death sentences. Rushanara Ali made her statement (below) after being approached by constituents concerned about the loss of life and injuries sustained in the crackdown against the protests and worried that the country may be descending into civil war.
Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali’s statement on escalating violence in Bangladesh
Rushanara Ali said: “The current situation in Bangladesh has raised serious concerns among the British Bangladeshi community and in the wider international community. I am shocked and saddened that this upheaval has already cost many people’s lives in recent weeks in clashes, riots, rallies and protests. There are also real concerns about human rights violations and reports of police brutality. The number of dead and injured across Bangladesh is increasing at an alarming rate and the uncertainty of the current situation continues to put people’s lives and livelihoods at risk. “I have already made representation to the UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon William Hague MP requesting the British Government take urgent action and apply its influence on the Government and opposition leaders of Bangladesh to bring an end to the violence which risks destabilising the country. I appeal for calm from the British Bangladeshi community who are rightly very concerned about developments in Bangladesh. We need to focus our efforts on working towards peace and stability in Bangladesh in these difficult times.”