Asked by: Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he is taking steps together with international partners to help ensure that the Bangladeshi government is held accountable for (a) its human rights record and (b) the conduct of the national election of 8 January 2024.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Bangladesh is a Human Rights Priority Country for the UK. We regularly raise human rights issues with the Government of Bangladesh bilaterally and in concert with our international partners. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad, Minister for South Asia, raised human rights with Prime Minister Hasina when they met in October. Respect for human rights, rule of law and due process are essential elements of the democratic process. These standards were not consistently met during the election period. We continue to work with likeminded partners to encourage all political parties to address their differences and find a common way forward in the interests of the people of Bangladesh. The UK government will continue to advocate for democracy with the Government of Bangladesh.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 November (HL485), how much the UK donated in aid to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, (5) 2021, and (6) 2022.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a leading donor to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, providing over £373 million in humanitarian support for the crisis since 2017. In the years requested, the UK has provided the following funding:
2017-2018 - £51.8 million
2018-2019 - £63.9 million
2019-2020 - £112.5 million
2020-2021 - £65.5 million
2021-2022 - £36.6 million
2022-2023 - £20.2 million.
Given unprecedented global humanitarian need, the UK has adjusted annual allocations for specific crises, including the Rohingya. The UK will return to the 0.7 per cent ODA/GNI target as soon as the fiscal situation allows.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the cuts made to aid for the humanitarian response for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a leading donor to the Rohingya response overall in Bangladesh, providing over £373 million in humanitarian support for the crisis since 2017. Given unprecedented global humanitarian need, the UK has adjusted annual allocations for specific crises, including the Rohingya. The UK will return to the 0.7 per cent ODA/GNI target as soon as fiscal tests allow.
Asked by: James Murray (Labour (Co-op) - Ealing North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much financial support his Department has provided to Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh in each of the last five financial years.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has been a leading donor to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh, providing over £373 million in humanitarian support for the crisis since 2017. This includes direct funding to the refugee camp at Cox's Bazar and to UNHCR, the World Food Programme and other agencies that work on refugee issues.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) human rights, and (2) civil society in Bangladesh.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by the recent conviction of human rights activists and the shrinking of civil society space in Bangladesh. Bangladesh remains a UK Human Rights Priority Country. The UK regularly raises with the Government of Bangladesh, both in public and private, the importance of respect for human rights and the rule of law. In October, I met Prime Minister Hasina and raised the arrests of human rights defenders in Bangladesh. We press the Government of Bangladesh to end harassment and intimidation of civil society, the media and political opposition, including the Bangladesh National Party.
Correspondence Oct. 16 2023
Committee: International Development Committee (Department: Department for International Development)Found: Correspondence to the World Food Programme regarding food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Correspondence Oct. 16 2023
Committee: International Development Committee (Department: Department for International Development)Found: Correspondence from the World Food Programme regarding food assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
Found: Cross -Party Group Annual Return Name of Cross -Party Group Cross -Party Group on Bangladesh
Mentions:
1: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) My Lords, since 2017, we have provided more than £373 million in funding for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh - Speech Link
2: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bshp - Bishops) However, UK aid to the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has actually declined by about 82% since 2019- - Speech Link
3: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) There are 1 million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh—think of the scale of that—with people often living - Speech Link
4: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) They are being looked after in Bangladesh. - Speech Link
Found: Cross -Party Group Annual Return Name of Cross -Party Group Cross -Party Group on Bangladesh