With just 10 days left for the General Election, a British MP who heads a parliamentary group promoting closer UK-Bangladesh ties expressed hope that the polls will be open and free from violence.
Anne Main, Conservative Party MP and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh, said the UK government must offer support to the country’s Election Commission to deliver a free and fair election that is not tarnished by violence and suppression of free speech.
“The UK has committed more than £16 million to improve democratic engagement in Bangladesh since 2014 through DFID’s Strengthening Political Participation programme. We must ensure that UK taxpayer’s money is used effectively and delivers its stated aims,” said Main, who is also President of the Conservative Friends of Bangladesh.
“As a keen observer of Bangladeshi politics, my interests are not in any party political differences, but for the advancement of democracy in the country that will hopefully lead to further growth and prosperity for the people there,” she said.
The MP, who has made several visits to Bangladesh, highlighted the controversial Digital Security Act as having the potential to be a big step backwards for society in Bangladesh. She referred to the case of recently-released photographer and activist Dr Shahidul Alam, who was imprisoned for making alleged “false” and “provocative” statements to the media against the government during a protest in Dhaka.
“Criminalising speech against the state is a significant threat to a free and fair election at the end of December. The UK and the UN have rightly raised concerns about this piece of legislation and we should not be afraid to continue to do so,” Main said.
The British politician hailed the advances made by Bangladesh over the last decade, with living standards rising steadily and considerable economic, technological and infrastructure improvements. Economic growth has lifted the country and its people a great deal and the UK should be proud of its contribution to that, she noted.
"The next step is for the country to have a truly open, free and democratic election to give the people the power to hold those in office to account and to feel properly represented as Bangladesh looks to the future,” she added.