Bangladesh: Religious Freedom
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Bangladeshi counterpart on ending religious-based violence in that country.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
The UK remains deeply concerned about religious-based violence in Bangladesh. The previous Minister for the Indo-Pacific visited Bangladesh in November 2024 and discussed the importance of protection of religious minorities with the Chief Adviser. In February 2025, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with the Interim Government to discuss issues of justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
The UK welcomed public condemnations of violence from Bangladeshi leaders and civil society and supports the interim Government's actions to safeguard vulnerable communities.
Our commitment to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is reflected in our £27 million Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme (2023-2028), which aims to protect civic space, foster inclusive dialogue, and address tensions that can lead to violence.
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