PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Bangladesh: Religious Freedom (17 May 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the recent increase in attacks against Hindu people and temples in Bangladesh; and what recent steps his Department has taken to support freedom of religion or belief in Bangladesh.

Asked by:
Bob Blackman (Conservative)

The UK government is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities. Promoting the right to FoRB is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities.

We are concerned at the recent attacks against Hindu sites in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a human rights priority country for the FCDO, and Ministers and our High Commission in Dhaka regularly raise human rights concerns as part of continued dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh. The UK supports community leaders in Bangladesh to address the causes and effects of inter-religious, ethnic and political conflict. Our development programming supports citizen groups in 31 districts across the country to come together to resolve grievances, mitigate religious violence and advocate for inclusive and peaceful co-existence.

Answered by:
Nigel Adams (Conservative)
25 May 2021