London — Baroness Verma of Leicester has written to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressing grave concern over what she described as an escalating persecution of minority communities and opposition supporters in Bangladesh, urging urgent action and a strong response from the British government.
In a letter sent from the House of Lords, Baroness Verma said she had previously raised the issue both directly with the Prime Minister and in the Lords Chamber but had not received a response. She warned that the situation has since “deteriorated even further,” citing widely reported incidents of lynchings, the burning of young Hindu men, rape and forced conversions of non-Muslim women, and attacks on minority-owned properties.
The peer alleged that in several cases police have stood by as mobs attacked homes and businesses belonging to minority communities and opposition supporters. She said the violence has continued since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Baroness Verma also expressed concern over the role of interim leader Dr Muhammad Yunus, stating that he has failed to stop or publicly condemn the alleged atrocities. She said there are “grave concerns” about the safety of minorities and political opponents under the current interim administration.
Highlighting the UK’s relationship with Bangladesh, Baroness Verma stressed that expectations for action are high given that Britain remains one of the country’s largest donor nations. She called for the “strongest condemnation” from the UK government.
With elections scheduled to take place in Bangladesh in February, Baroness Verma urged the Prime Minister to ensure that UK election observers are deployed both before and during the polls. She raised particular concern over the reported involvement of Jamaat-e-Islami in the electoral process, alongside groups associated with Dr Yunus, describing this as a matter of “very serious concern” for the UK.
The letter also referred to reports that the interim administration is considering removing the word “secular” from Bangladesh’s constitution. Baroness Verma said this raises serious questions about what she termed the “cultural and political decimation” of the constitution, as well as the apparent inaction of law enforcement agencies.
Concluding her letter, Baroness Verma said members of the British Bangladeshi community are closely watching the UK government’s response and urged the Prime Minister to treat the matter with urgency.
