Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the recent treatment of road safety protesters by the Bangladeshi authorities in Dhaka.
Answered by Mark Field
I was deeply concerned by the violence we saw in Dhaka in response to protests on road-safety this summer. In a statement on 7 August, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Alison Blake, together with other EU Heads of Mission, called on the Government of Bangladesh to investigate incidents of unlawful or disproportionate violence against road safety protestors and journalists and hold the perpetrators to account. Subsequently, Joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development Minister Alistair Burt expressed our concern regarding the response to the road safety protests with the Government of Bangladesh, during his visit to Bangladesh from 28-31 August.
Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We raised freedom of expression as a key concern in Bangladesh during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review and we continue to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to work with Bangladeshi Civil Society to address their concerns regarding freedom of expression.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Bangladeshi Government on the recent treatment of road safety protesters in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
I was deeply concerned by the violence we saw in Dhaka in response to protests on road-safety this summer. In a statement on 7 August, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Alison Blake, together with other EU Heads of Mission, called on the Government of Bangladesh to investigate incidents of unlawful or disproportionate violence against road safety protestors and journalists and hold the perpetrators to account. Subsequently, Joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development Minister Alistair Burt expressed our concern regarding the response to the road safety protests with the Government of Bangladesh, during his visit to Bangladesh from 28-31 August.
Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We raised freedom of expression as a key concern in Bangladesh during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review and we continue to encourage the Government of Bangladesh to work with Bangladeshi Civil Society to address their concerns regarding freedom of expression.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Bangladeshi Government on the restrictions to free speech enacted by that country's Digital Security Act and the effect of that Act on free and fair elections in that country.
Answered by Mark Field
I remain very concerned by continuing restrictions on freedom of expression in Bangladesh. The Digital Security Act has attracted significant Civil Society and media criticism in Bangladesh, including for the vagueness of its text, which they fear could be used to prosecute a range of behaviours, and for its harsh sentences. On 27 September, the UK, along with other EU Missions in Dhaka, issued a statement raising concerns that the Act could undermine freedom of expression. Subsequently, the Acting High Commissioner met the Bangladeshi Information Minister on 9 October to emphasise our concerns. Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We raised freedom of expression as a key concern in Bangladesh during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.
I am clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh, and continuing restrictions on freedom of expression will have a negative impact on that election. I have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. I made these points to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June to 1 July this year. The Foreign Secretary made these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the safe release of the photographer Shahidul Alam from prison in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
I was deeply concerned by the violence we saw in Dhaka in response to road safety protests by students following the tragic deaths of two school age students on 29 July, and the subsequent arrest of Shahidul Alam. Joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development Minister Alistair Burt expressed UK concern regarding the response to the road safety protests, and raised Dr Alam's case, with the Government of Bangladesh, during his visit to Bangladesh from 28-31 August. The Foreign Secretary raised Dr Alam's case with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembley in New York.
Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We raised freedom of expression as a key concern in Bangladesh during the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of electronic voting on voter fraud in the upcoming election in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK Government has consistently made a clear desire to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh. I have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. Dialogue should address concerns regarding the use of electronic voting machines and the potential for voter fraud. I made clear my concerns regarding the election to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh National Party, during my visit to Bangladesh 29 June - 1 July. The Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of free, fair and non-violent elections in Bangladesh with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembley in New York.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) free and fair elections and (b) political activism in Bangladesh.
Answered by Mark Field
I have consistently made it clear that the UK wants to see a free, fair and pluralistic general election in Bangladesh, and we have consistently encouraged the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to this end. I made these points to senior members of the Government of Bangladesh, including State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and members of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June - 1 July. The Foreign Secretary also made these points to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The UK is active in supporting civil society and greater political participation in Bangladesh. We sponsor a range of project work through the £16.2 million DFID Strengthening Political Participation Phase Two programme. The programme includes work with the Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre designed to empower Bangladeshi youth to take a more active role in politics, and a Capable Media for Strong Democracy project to build the capability of Bangladesh's media in achieving objective media reporting. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also supports Article 19, an NGO supporting freedom of expression internationally, to monitor freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Bangladeshi counterpart on proposals to move Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island.
Answered by Mark Field
I discussed the Government of Bangladesh's proposal to move Rohingya refugees from camps in Cox's Bazar to Bhashan Char island with State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, during my visit to Bangladesh from 29 June - 1 July. We have asked the Government of Bangladesh to allow for a United Nations technical assessment to assess the viability of the island. I am clear that any relocation of refugees must be safe, dignified and in accordance with international humanitarian principles, standards and laws.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding the Government has allocated to promote (a) freedom of expression, (b) rights to peaceful protest and (c) democratic engagement in Bangladesh in each of the last five years.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID Bangladesh has allocated GBP 8.38 million on democratic engagement over the last five years (2014-2018) through phases 1 and 2 of the Strengthening Political Participation Programme. The annual expenditure is as follows:
Year | Amount in GBP |
2014 (SPP I) | 16,456.33 |
2015 (SPP I) | 2,132,855.88 |
2016 (SPP I) | 1,062,532.94 |
2017 (SPP II) | 1,817,969.83 |
2018 (SPP II) | 3,357,854.96 |
Total | 8,387,669.94 |
FCO Funding to the organisation Article 19 Bangladesh has supported freedom of expression. This included: £64,284 2014-15 to support freedom of expression; £10,000 in 2016 to support freedom of expression for sexual minorities; and £199,964 to support protection of freedom of expression for journalists and social media commentators 2016 – 2018.
We do not currently fund any programmes specifically addressing the right to Freedom of Assembly or peaceful protest.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the terms and conditions are for the provision of aid to Bangladesh to promote human rights and freedom of expression; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure compliance with those terms and conditions.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID Bangladesh funds programmes that support civil society to hold the government to account, protect civic space and promote rights, particularly for marginalised or vulnerable groups. These programmes comply with DFID programme management requirements, including thorough due diligence assessments and robust monitoring and evaluation.
Where appropriate, programmes that provide funding directly through government systems or work in the security and justices sectors are assessed against DFID Partnership Principles or Overseas Justice and Security Assessment (OSJA) criteria respectively. These ensure programming is human rights compliant. DFID programmes complement FCO Magna Carta human rights funding and FCO diplomatic engagement.
Details of DFID Bangladesh programmes are available on the Devtracker website.
I was deeply concerned by the violence in Dhaka in response to peaceful road safety protests by students and the subsequent arrest of journalist Shahidul Alam. I expressed UK concern regarding the response to the road safety protests, and raised Dr Alam's case, with the Government of Bangladesh, during my visit to Bangladesh 28-31 August. The Foreign Secretary also raised Dr Alam’s case with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met on 24 September in New York.
Asked by: Anne Main (Conservative - St Albans)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the value for money of the provision of development assistance to Bangladesh for freedom of expression and political engagement.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The Strengthening Political Participation phase 2 (SPP2) programme works to track, mitigate and prevent violence in politics and elections. The social and economic costs to families and communities are very high - before and after the 2014 elections, almost 900 people were killed and over 38,000 were injured across Bangladesh. Whilst the SPP2 programme cannot guarantee an end to violence in politics, it makes an important contribution to this aim.
The SPP2 programme is subject to annual review which includes an annual Value for Money (VfM) assessment. The first and most recent annual review of SPP2 was conducted in April 2018 and is published online via DFID’s web portal for Bangladesh. Overall the VfM propositions made in the business case remain on track.