APPG’s Bangladesh account misleads on UK policy: Rupa Huq

Staff Reporter :

British MP Rupa Huq has criticised what she describes as a “one-sided account” of Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, alleging that it was falsely associated with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth, causing confusion.

“This autumn, a biased portrayal of the Bangladeshi Yunus government was circulated under the name of the APPG for the Commonwealth, spreading falsehoods through extensive press releases and creating misunderstandings about UK government policy,” Huq stated in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The UK lawmaker further clarified, “I confirmed with the @HouseofCommons that this has no official relevance.”

Huq’s comments follow her recent visit to Bangladesh as part of a delegation from the UK-Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI).
In November 2024, the APPG released a report examining the aftermath of Bangladesh’s political crisis following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5 August.

On 4 December, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain called on British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, to ensure accurate information is relayed to the UK government regarding the country’s minority situation and the student-led uprising that took place between July and August.

Hossain emphasised the omission of critical facts in the APPG report, particularly the significant number of students killed in the streets prior to 5 August.

He reaffirmed the foreign ministry’s commitment to countering misinformation and ensuring the international community is fully informed about the atrocities and the broader context of events in Bangladesh.