Bangladesh voices strong dissatisfaction over remarks by UK parliamentary group

Bangladesh has strongly criticized what it describes as "misleading statements" made by the United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) regarding deaths and minority issues in the country. During a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain expressed this discontent to British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke.

"I told her that we are deeply hurt by attempts to suggest there were more deaths after August 5. This claim is entirely false," Touhid stated to reporters following the meeting. 

The adviser invited Cooke to his office to clarify Bangladesh’s stance and requested that she convey the accurate situation to relevant parties in the UK. Touhid highlighted two speeches made by British MPs on November 2 concerning the minority situation in Bangladesh, which he said were based on misinformation. He also noted that certain UK-based organizations have disseminated inaccurate details that do not reflect the reality on the ground.

"While members of parliament are free to express their views, I have urged the British high commissioner to inform her government of Bangladesh's perspective on this matter," Touhid said. 

In response, Cooke assured the adviser that she would relay his message and encouraged Bangladesh’s mission in London to take additional steps to present the country’s narrative. 

Touhid further clarified that nearly 1,500 deaths occurred before August 5, and the APPG’s statements grossly misrepresented the events of the July-August period. While acknowledging that some incidents may have occurred after August 5, he maintained that the portrayal was incorrect. "The way it has been presented is absolutely inaccurate," he concluded.