Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been urged to address the rapidly worsening situation in Bangladesh, with fears that the crisis could have ramifications in the UK.
A cross-party group of MPs has presented a report detailing alarming developments, including a surge in Islamist extremism following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024.
The report, issued by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth, documents over 2,000 atrocities since Hasina’s administration fell. It highlighted allegations of the new interim government weaponizing the legal system to target political opponents.
The fallout from the unrest could resonate in the UK, where the 2021 census recorded 644,881 people of Bangladeshi descent in England and Wales, accounting for 1.1% of the population.
Among those affected is Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq, whose aunt is Sheikh Hasina and whose maternal grandfather was Bangladesh’s founding president.
APPG chairman and Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell emphasized the importance of the report. He stated that “This report will be a step in our efforts to raise awareness of issues affecting important Commonwealth partners.” Rosindell expressed hope that the findings would inform policymakers in Westminster and Whitehall.
The report’s conclusions paint a bleak picture of Bangladesh’s current state. According to the report, “Despite the violence and turmoil, the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government at the start of August 2024 was met by many with great joy and hope.”
However, it warned of a “culture of using the law as a political weapon” and calls for immediate action to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
Extremism and Ethnic Tensions Mount
Concerns are growing about the rise of Islamist hardliners in the political landscape. The APPG warned that “hardline Islamists are becoming increasingly politically influential and visible,” raising fears about the stability of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The report also highlighted a range of human rights abuses, including murder charges filed against former ministers, Awami League leaders, judges, journalists, and other professionals. The volume of charges has led to “questions around their credibility.”
Ethnic and religious minorities have also been targeted in recent months, the report stated. The APPG has documented over 1,000 deaths by the end of August, with the security situation in certain regions described as “extremely dangerous.”
Sheikh Hasina’s ousting on August 5, 2024, marked a dramatic end to her 15-year rule in Bangladesh, driven by widespread public discontent.
Initially sparked by student protests against a controversial job quota system favoring war veterans’ descendants, the demonstrations quickly escalated into a broader uprising against Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian governance and rampant corruption.
Her heavy-handed response, including police brutality and labeling protesters as “Razakars,” fueled public outrage and galvanized support across diverse societal segments.
As protests intensified, the military’s reluctance to support further violence left Hasina with no choice but to resign and flee the country, highlighting the unsustainable nature of her regime built on repression rather than democratic engagement.
Despite hopes for change, the interim regime’s response has been called into question. “A failure to address these issues will not reflect well on the new interim regime,” the report notes.
Rosindell emphasized that the findings would be shared with charities, policymakers, and other stakeholders connected to Bangladesh and the Commonwealth, underscoring the UK’s commitment to its global partners.
The APPG’s report sheds light on a volatile situation with far-reaching implications. With Islamist influence growing and a fragile government struggling to maintain order, the international community faces mounting pressure to act decisively.
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