UK Human Rights Report

Collected Foreign Affairs Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen

UK human rights report on Bangladesh is not acceptable: AK Abdul Momen

"Dhaka has not "accepted" what has been said about a number of issues related to Bangladesh mentioned in the Human Rights Report released by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom. Because they are not 'information based'," he said.

Asked about the UK report that said former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been kept under house arrest, Momen said, "If that report were factual, it would be helpful for us. But since it is fake, it may seem intentional, it is not good."

The remarks came a day after the Foreign Office summoned Javed Patel, the British Acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, to express dissatisfaction with the issues mentioned in the Bangladesh chapter of the UK's Human Rights and Democracy Report-2020 on Thursday.

The Foreign Office has made it clear to the British Ambassador that (Khaleda Zia) will receive medical treatment at her home and will not be able to travel abroad, on the condition that the government suspend her sentence and release her in March 2020.

Regarding the summons, Dr Momen said the British acting high commissioner had assured him that he would convey his dissatisfaction with Dhaka to his government. He also agreed that any human rights report should be factual.

Dhaka also expressed concern over the number of Rohingya refugees seeking temporary asylum in Bangladesh, as mentioned in the British report in the statement. Officials from both sides agreed on the importance of using authentic sources of information when referring to government documents or reports.