HC Deb 28 April 2003 vol 404 cc115-6W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on the actions of her Government in Operation Clean Heart; and if he will make a statement; [108282]

(2) what discussions he has had with the Bangladesh Government on the complaints of harassment of members of opposition parties in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.[108284]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

We were concerned by reports of mistreatment of detainees associated with "Operation Clean Heart", and by the simultaneous arrests and reported harassment of opposition politicians. We have discussed both issues with the Bangladesh Government on a number of occasions, including when my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (Ms Keeble), met the Bangladesh Home Minister in Dhaka last December. We look for the due process of law to be followed in all cases. We also urge the Government and opposition parties to work together in the interests of democracy.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the British High Commissioner in Bangladesh on the human rights situation in Bangladesh.[108283]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary sees the High Commissioner's reports on human rights and other developments in Bangladesh and has discussions with him at Heads of Mission meetings. We continue to raise our concerns on human rights with the Bangladesh authorities. The FCO Director for South Asia and our High Commissioner discussed human rights with the Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in London in January. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (Ms Keeble), also took up the issue with the Bangladesh Home Minister when she visited Dhaka last December.