Bangladesh has expressed strong discontent over what it calls "misleading statements" by an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) of the United Kingdom regarding deaths and minority issues in the country.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain conveyed this sentiment to British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
“I told her that we are very hurt because there has been an attempt to show that there have been more deaths after August 5. This is completely false,” he told reporters after the meeting with Cooke.
Touhid said he invited her to his office to present Bangladesh’s position and requested that she relay the actual situation on the ground.
The adviser shared two incidents -- two members of the British parliament delivered speeches on the minority situation in Bangladesh on November 2.
He informed the UK high commissioner about misinformation in those speeches. Apart from that, some British-based organizations have presented some information that does not reflect authentic on-the-ground details.
“Members of parliament can say whatever they want; there is nothing anyone can do here. But I have requested the British high commissioner to inform the British government of Bangladesh's position on this issue,” Touhid said.
In response, Cooke assured the adviser that she will pass on the message and said Bangladesh’s mission in London can also take steps to communicate the accurate narrative, he said.
Touhid told the high commissioner that nearly 1,500 people were killed before August 5, and the statement completely misrepresented the events of the July-August uprising.
The foreign adviser also said some incidents may have occurred after August 5. “However, the way it has been portrayed is not correct. It is absolutely not correct.”
