§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs hat representations he has made to the Government of Bangladesh about the proposed elections scheduled for 15 February; and if he will make a statement. [13841]
§ Mr. HanleyWe have made no formal representations to the Government of Bangladesh about the elections, but our high commissioner has been in close contact with the leaders of the main political parties throughout the current political crisis in Bangladesh. We regret the failure to reach an agreed settlement of the long-standing dispute242W over the conditions under which elections should be held and the consequent decision of the major Opposition parties not to put forward candidates in the forthcoming elections.