UK Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has urged an end to the last 60 days of violence in Bangladesh.
The UK minister made the call in a statement issued on Thursday.
Hugo Swire said: "I am therefore particularly saddened about the last 60 days of violence and disruption which has had such an impact on the livelihood, education, and security of so many Bangladeshi people."
He said there is no place for this in a democratic Bangladesh.
"The UK urges all of Bangladesh’s political parties, the government, and others in society to take the confidence-building measures necessary to stop the violence and reduce tension," he said.
He also called upon all to ensure an inclusive and participatory political process in Bangladesh.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has been enforcing a non-stop nationwide blockade since January 5 in protest against the “confinement” of party chief Khaleda Zia.
So far, more than 80 people have died and scores have been injured in different parts of the country in violence during the non-stop blockade enforced by the BNP-led alliance.
Of this violence, a large number of arson attacks are being conducted on highways. Hundreds of vehicles, including those belonging to law-enforcers, were attacked and burnt.
Khaleda Zia had been kept confined to her Gulshan party office since January 3 ahead of a party rally, marking “Democracy Killing Day.”
On January 12, the security was relaxed.
But Khaleda never came out; instead she said in a press conference that she was going to stay there and the blockade would continue unless the government took the first steps towards a solution.
