Press Release - Human Rights in Bangladesh

Oona King MP has raised the current situation in Bangladesh in the British Parliament. Her question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office highlighting political violence and human rights abuses. She also asked the Foreign and Office Minister, Mike O�Brien MP, to write to her regarding the introduction of the controversial Indemnity Bill.

Ms King has been in frequent contact with the British High Commission in Dhaka to request representation on a variety of issues. One of these is the long-standing issue of justice, following Surat Miah�s tragic murder.

Oona King has raised issues relating to Bangladesh for many years now and she is committed to keeping Bangladesh on the Government agenda. She took a delegation of British MP�s to Bangladesh in February 2000.

Ms King said:

� I am extremely concerned by reports I have received about law and order in Bangladesh. In principle I welcome the Bangladeshi Governments efforts to combat this problem, however, in practice I have been disappointed by some of the measures used for Operation Clean Heart.

�There have been shocking accounts of the mistreatment of detainees, including deaths in custody. In the past there have been reported human rights abuses on both sides and I look to the Bangladeshi Government to ensure that the treatment of detainees complies with internationally agreed minimum standards.

I will continue to monitor the situation closely.�