PRESS RELEASE – Parliamentary Discussion Held at the House of Commons on Bangladesh’s Political and Human Rights Situation

PRESS RELEASE

Parliamentary Discussion Held at the House of Commons on Bangladesh’s Political and Human Rights Situation

London, 23 February 2026

A parliamentary discussion titled “Bangladesh at a Crossroads: 18 Months of Interim Government and Elections” was held at the British Parliament, bringing together Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, policy experts, and representatives of the international community to examine the evolving political and human rights situation in Bangladesh.

The discussion was chaired by Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament, and featured distinguished speakers including Lord Rami Ranger and Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle.

During the session, a documentary video was presented highlighting allegations of human rights violations and concerns regarding electoral integrity in Bangladesh.

In his opening remarks, Chair Bob Blackman MP stated that banning the political activities of the Bangladesh Awami League through ordinance and suspending its registration could not be considered part of a democratic process.

He further described what he viewed as a significant deterioration of human rights during the interim government period, highlighting reported abuses affecting minority communities, women, and children, as well as allegations that minorities were either pressured into voting or prevented from accessing polling stations.

Lord Rami Ranger emphasized that preventing citizens from voting for candidates of their choice undermines democratic principles and weakens public confidence in electoral systems.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Md. Habibe Millat, President of the Global Centre for Democratic Governance. He presented an overview of the human rights situation, alleging that 124 Members of Parliament, along with thousands of political activists, had been detained for extended periods without trial and were being denied bail. He further claimed that law enforcement institutions were operating under political influence and called for the immediate release of individuals detained in politically motivated cases.

Additional remarks were delivered under the moderation of Cris Blackburn by invited speakers, including Barrister S. M. Rezaul Karim, Cllr. Puspita Dasgupta, Badrul Ahsan, Barrister Tania Ameer, Prosanta Purakayasta, Abdul Wadud Dara, Dewan Gous Sultan, Razeeb Parvez, and Barrister Md. Moonirul Islam, who shared perspectives on democratic restoration, political dialogue, rule of law, and international engagement concerning Bangladesh.

Media Contact:

Global Centre for Democratic Governance

Email: contact@globalcdg.org