Bangladesh summons UK envoy over rights report

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned acting British High Commissioner Javed Patel to express its “disappointment” with a recent rights report from the UK government.

The Human Rights and Democracy Report 2020 was released by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office agency on Thursday and included a chapter on Bangladesh.

The report’s description of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s current situation as “house arrest” was disputed by Bangladesh.

“In March, opposition leader Khaleda Zia was released from prison following a government decision to suspend her sentence for six months on the condition that she received medical treatment at home and did not travel abroad. She remained under house arrest in Dhaka throughout 2020, following an extension to her suspension in September,” the report said.

“It was clarified to the AHC that on the application of Begum Zia's brother, the government had - as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 - suspended her prison sentence and 'released' her in March 2020 on the condition that she would receive medical treatment at home and would not travel abroad,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“It was pointed out that the suspension of her sentence and release from prison, applicable for an initial six-month period, were subsequently extended twice in September 2020 and March 2021.”

The ministry also told the acting high commissioner to consult the relevant authorities if there was any “confusion over such legal issues”.

The ministry also added that a report from the UK government should not include “insinuating and misleading” statements regarding Bangladesh’s government or its ruling party, the Awami League.

It also expressed concerns about terminology used to refer to Rohingyas temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh and their numbers.

Patel gave assurances that these views would be conveyed to the agency responsible for the report.

The UK "valued its diversified partnership with Bangladesh, and wished to continue a constructive dialogue on human rights and governance issues through the established mechanisms", Patel said, according to the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Patel recognised Bangladesh as a "maturing democracy" and added that the UK government did not take sides with or against any political party in Bangladesh, the ministry said.