LONDON, England – Catherine West, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), on the situation in Bangladesh, said:
“The UK is deeply concerned by the violence we have seen in Bangladesh in recent days, with reports of hundreds killed and thousands injured. The loss of life is unacceptable. Peaceful protestors must not be subject to violence.
“The rights to protest, to peacefully assemble and to express different political views are rights which the UK holds dear and must be protected.
“Access to the internet and communications services must be restored quickly so people in Bangladesh can be reconnected with their families and friends in the UK and across the globe.
“We urge an end to the violence and loss of life and call on all sides to find ways to restore calm across Bangladesh, including by establishing a pathway for constructive political dialogue in the interests of the people of Bangladesh.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected. The people-to-people connections between our two countries are strong, with a strong Bangladeshi community in the UK contributing enormously.”