Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the adequacy of the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh planning to vote in that country’s national election.

The UK Government wants to see free, fair, participatory and peaceful elections in Bangladesh. We are committed to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, which is a human right guaranteed under international law. We promote human rights through our political dialogue and programmes in Bangladesh. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister for South Asia, raised human rights with Prime Minister Hasina when they met in October. We are monitoring the implications of the upcoming elections, and we will continue to stress to the Government of Bangladesh that respect for human rights, including the safety of religious minorities, are essential elements of the democratic process.