London, Jan 16 (NationPress) The leader of the UK's Conservative Party, MP Bob Blackman, has expressed serious worries regarding what he labels as a catastrophic situation in Bangladesh. He has highlighted the alarming rise in violence against minorities, particularly noting that Hindus are facing brutal murders in public spaces, as their homes and temples are being set ablaze, with other religious minorities experiencing similar acts of violence.

During his speech in the House of Commons, Blackman remarked, “In the pre-recess Adjournment debate, I brought up the grave circumstances in Bangladesh, prompting the Leader of the House to appropriately contact the Foreign Secretary regarding this dire situation. Hindu men are being slain on the streets; their residences are being torched; temples are being destroyed; and other religious minorities are enduring comparable fates.”

The British lawmaker cautioned that the upcoming national elections on February 12 in Bangladesh are marred by democratic issues, with the major political party, Awami League, prohibited from participating, while Islamic extremists are advocating for a referendum to alter the nation's constitution.

“Next month, so-called free and fair elections are scheduled. The Awami League, a significant political force in Bangladesh, is excluded from contesting in these elections, despite holding approximately 30 percent support in opinion polls. Additionally, Islamic extremists have called for a referendum that could permanently change Bangladesh's constitution,” he stated.

Blackman has also urged a statement from the British Foreign Secretary next week detailing the measures the UK Government intends to implement to protect minorities throughout Bangladesh and ensure elections that are free, fair, and inclusive in the South Asian country.

Just last week, a group of four UK parliamentarians voiced their serious apprehensions regarding the ban on widely supported political parties under the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus ahead of the February elections. They argued that this action disregards guidelines from the United Nations and from the UK and its allies.

In their joint statement, these British lawmakers, including Bob Blackman, Jim Shannon, Jas Athwal, and Chris Law, emphasized that the “unelected” interim government led by Yunus should not have imposed such limitations on Bangladeshi voters and warned that any election that excludes major political parties cannot be deemed democratic.