Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Bangladesh Government to ensure the fair and equal treatment of political parties in that country's forthcoming elections.

​The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Ali during his visit to Bangladesh from 9 to 10 February. In both meetings he stressed the importance of free, fair elections and affording political space to the opposition. I did the same when I met Foreign Minister Ali on 19 April in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018. The UK has consistently called on the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties to engage in an effective dialogue to lay the groundwork for a free, fair and participatory general election. High Commission officials based in Dhaka regularly convey these messages to the Government of Bangladesh and opposition parties alike.