Juyel Raaj-
The UK-Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI), is an organisation of British Bangladeshi businessmen. As a member of a delegation of 22 people from this organisation and with their financial support, British Bangladeshi Labour Party MP Rupa Huq recently visited Bangladesh. There, she met with the current ruling interim government’s chief advisor and other advisors. She also discussed business and trade in Bangladesh. The students who participated in the July-August movement and the BNP Jamaat who used to organise various reform meetings and rallies in London. After the change of government, one of those students entered the Bangladesh High Commission in London and, without any kind of jurisdiction, permission or government instructions, took down the picture of the constitutionally adopted Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Rupa Huq met with a leader like that, and private university students. With the change of government in Bangladesh, the ownership and occupation of this university have been taken over, and it is known that the expatriate leader has taken over the institution. Who has been holding various seminars or political meetings in London for a long time at the invitation of Rupa Huq.
After that visit, on 16 January, in the British Parliament, at the point of order, she commented on the APPG’s Bangladesh report on minority oppression and human rights violations in Bangladesh, saying that it was a one-sided report published under Indian influence. And she requested to stop its dissemination.
But there is no mention or news anywhere that Rupa Huq had met any victim of oppression, Awami League or any organisation of minority communities or any victimised family or heard their statements. Like various advisors to the government, she only gave anti-India information, came to the British Parliament and presented one-sided views.
However, when all the memories of the Liberation War are being erased in Bangladesh, the residence of the Father of the Nation is being bulldozed to the ground, murals of national leaders are being destroyed one after another, houses are being looted, arson is being committed, mass arrests are being made, killings are being done, humanity is being forgotten, Rupa Huq has not uttered a single sentence anywhere.
That means that Rupa Huq’s visit to Bangladesh was purposeful. For some unknown reason, Rupa Huq has been maintaining her friendship with the anti-Liberation War and anti-Awami League circles of Bangladesh for a long time, as shown by some published examples.
LCHR organised a discussion program on 4 February 2020 in the British Parliament House of Commons centred on a publication titled ‘Britain and Bangladesh’. Rupa Huq’s speech about that program was published on a web portal called ‘Netro’. Another column by LCHR member and London-based journalist Stephen Delahunty. That was also published on that portal, whose English department editor is David Bergman. Who is known as the representative of Bangladesh Jamaat Islam. The event was presided over by the organisation’s executive director and chair Matthew Turner. Other speakers included Murad Qureshi, a board member of BRAC UK and former Labour member of the Greater London Assembly, Halima Begum, a social policy and relief expert, Kazi Najma Karim, sister of photojournalist Shahidul Alam, Rumana Hashem, a lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of Warwick, and David Bergman. These names are enough to give an idea of the purpose of the event. Most of whom were openly advocating for a change in the current situation in Bangladesh.
The opening speech of the event was given by Rupa Huq. She commented that Bangladesh, under the rule of the Awami League, has become a ‘rogue state’ or something close to it. She said that the Kashmir and Palestinian crises are perhaps more discussed in terms of human rights. But if we ignore this human rights tragedy [in Bangladesh], we will be in trouble.’ Rupa Huq expressed surprise at the tributes paid to Bangabandhu during her visit to Dhaka as a British MP in 2017. She criticised the punishment for showing disrespect to the Father of the Nation.
Regarding the organisation of various events throughout the year to celebrate Bangabandhu’s birth centenary in 2020, Rupa Huq said, “I received an invitation to an event here this March in a dining hall of the House of Commons to mark the Father of the Nation’s birthday. I will just say this, I do not accept the narrative of the organisers of the meeting that this man is the Father of the Nation.”
Rupa also said at the meeting that power in Bangladesh used to change hands between the Awami League and the BNP. ‘But now the country is stuck on one side, because everyone on the other side has been put in jail.’ Rupa Huq criticised the renaming of Dhaka’s Zia International Airport to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
But the reality is that this dirty politics of name change was started by BNP when it came to power. The Chittagong Airport, named after MA Hannan, who read the first declaration of independence, was renamed Shah Amanat, Bangabandhu Novo Theatre was renamed Bhashani Novo Theatre, and Bangabandhu Convention Hall was renamed China Friendship Conference.
Again, on 25 July last year, Rupa Huq said in her speech in the UK Parliament, “Recently, protests have been seen in Rome, Paris, Manchester, and Trafalgar Square in London regarding the ongoing situation in Bangladesh. Hundreds of ordinary students and protesters have been killed in Bangladesh. We have not been able to know the exact number yet because the internet has been shut down in Bangladesh. Can the UK government make an urgent government statement to clarify our position? I think it is important to clarify our place in these circumstances, which will play a historic and unique role.
Then, when the country’s elected Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave Ganabhaban to save her life from the hands of militants, the country’s British-Bangladeshi MP Rupa Huq said that it would not be appropriate for her government to take such a decision after August 5, amid rumours about the possibility of Sheikh Hasina taking political asylum in the UK.
She expressed her opinion in an article in the British newspaper The Standard. The Labour Party MP wrote that George Harrison sang about how ‘chaotic’ Bangladesh was. Last week, he was proven right again. The reflection of events like the overthrow of Saddam Hussein was seen; statues of the Father of the Nation were torn down, and effigies were burned, which spread from Dhaka to Tower Hamlets.
Rupa Huq compared Sheikh Hasina’s downfall in the face of student protests to Tiananmen Square. She wrote, “The ‘autocratic’ daughter Sheikh Mujib has ruled the country for a large part of her life (ensuring the installation of her father’s sculptures and paintings everywhere).
Rupa Huq wrote, “Most people think of Sheikh Hasina as not just a sari-clad septuagenarian but also a ‘barbaric’ ruler. She was exiled to India amid nationwide protests.”
Rupa Huq wrote, “I personally think that given her widely unpopular rule and the political sensitivity of immigration, it would not be appropriate for the UK government to grant asylum to someone who is facing trial at the International Criminal Court. Many Bangladeshis believe that she should be returned to the country to face trial.”
Finally, Rupa Huq wrote, “My Bangladeshi brothers and sisters have regained their composure. There is no longer a culture of fear of being persecuted for speaking out against the government.” However, the risk remains: I hope democracy will return there. However, the fallen camp says that they brought stability.
British MP Rupa Huq has expressed hope that the student-public uprising will end the dynasty in the politics of the new Bangladesh. She made this comment at a program at the Medical College for Women and Hospital in Uttara in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
At that time, this British MP of Bangladeshi origin commented that it is not right to think that in the changed situation, other than the two big parties, others will not be able to do anything.
Rupa Huq said, “There is no reason to think that no one else can do what the two big political parties, which are built on family lines, have done. The opportunity that the youth have given to build a new Bangladesh, skilled and talented people must come forward. As a member of parliament in Britain, I hope that the interim government will organise a good election in the country.”
British MP Rupa said that skilled and talented people must be given opportunities in the new Bangladesh. He advised the government to work in sectors like technology and artificial intelligence rather than relying solely on the garment industry.
Rupa Huq expressed interest in knowing the timing of the next parliamentary elections. In response, Dr. Yunus expressed his commitment to holding a fair, acceptable, credible election by December 2025 or 2026. However, it depends on how much reform the people expect.
MP Rupa Huq’s recent visit to Bangladesh has sparked significant controversy, with minority groups accusing her of ignoring the persecution of Hindus and other minorities in the country. The visit, which took place on 4 January 2025, has raised questions about her motives and impartiality.
During her visit, MP Huq met with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, and political and business leaders. She also attended a reception hosted by university students and interacted with student leaders. In an interview with the BBC Bangla editor, MP Huq admitted that she had visited Bangladesh in May 2024 and admitted that “Hindus are in trouble.” However, he attributed these issues solely to political reasons and did not acknowledge the role of religious extremism in the attacks on minorities.
After returning to the UK, MP Huq posted on his official X account (formerly Twitter):
“… clearly @bbcbangla has fact-checked, there is a lot of misinformation about minorities…”
This statement drew strong reactions from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) and the Bangladesh Youth Unity Council, who noted that MP Huq had not met community leaders or victims or visited affected areas such as Sunamganj, Bagerhat, and Chittagong. As the organisation claims, she also failed to meet community leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is currently detained on false charges. Critics argue that MP Huq’s public comments, which downplayed the plight of minorities, are inappropriate for someone of his stature.
An article in INSIGHT UK raised concerns about his interactions during the trip, particularly his secret meetings with Mohammad Yunus and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, an organisation linked to Islamic extremism. The article also highlighted his lack of contact with affected minority communities, calling for an urgent, impartial investigation to uncover the truth behind his visit.
This is not the first time MP Huq has faced criticism. In September 2022, she was expelled from the Labour Party after making racist comments about then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, calling him “too black”. Although she was later reinstated, her actions have raised concerns about his racial integrity and judgment.
Minority organisations, including the BHBCUC and the Bangladesh Youth Unity Council, have written open letters expressing deep concern over MP Huq’s actions and statements. They have stressed the need for an impartial investigation to ensure justice for the minority community and restore peace and democracy in Bangladesh.
The controversy surrounding MP Huq’s visit highlights the challenges facing minorities in Bangladesh, who continue to endure violence, discrimination and systemic neglect. Observers and activists hope the situation will bring greater global awareness and pressure for action. So far, 88 cases of abuse against minorities have been reported in the country from August 5 to October 22, according to the press wing of the chief adviser.
At a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Tuesday (December 10), the press secretary to the chief advisor, Shafiqul Alam, said, “70 people have been arrested in these cases of minority oppression.”
Shafiqul Alam said, “Although they are all mentioned as minority oppression, investigations by the international media have revealed that most of these attacks are for political and personal reasons. But someone’s political identity will not be considered in the arrest and trial.”
The government representative admitted that minority oppression was for political reasons, but Rupa Huq did not know any information about any oppression.
The statistics of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council claim that there were 2010 incidents of communal violence. Samakal’s investigation found the truth in 135 of the 296 allegations. However, many Hindu families whose names were not on the list were persecuted. Most of the attackers are known to be associated with the politics of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Again, attacks were carried out from the 5 Augustvictory procession.
As of December, the police said that out of 1,769 complaints, they have registered cases by determining the initial information in 62 cases. Based on the investigation, at least 35 criminals have been arrested. This had crossed 2,000 by February.
The investigation showed that in most cases, the attacks were not communally motivated – rather, they were carried out for political purposes.
The police investigation revealed that 1,234 incidents were politically motivated and 20 incidents were communal.
Then, after Rupa Huq returned to Britain after her visit to Bangladesh, she told the Parliament that the APPG report was one-sided.
But will Rupa Huq look at herself in the mirror and say whether she is impartial or not. Will she give any answer to the fact that she has been holding regular meetings with various organisations of Jamaat-e-Islami BNP in Britain for a long time? The biggest proof is her participation in the meeting of the British Parliament with Shafiqur Rahman, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an organisation accused of crimes against humanity during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi British citizens are protesting in London demanding the resignation of Rupa Huq. They said that a member of parliament from Great Britain, a pilgrimage site of multiculturalism and democracy, spoke to suspend the entire report based on the information provided by various representatives of the ruling government without any kind of information and data instead of standing up for the oppressed minorities of Bangladesh.
On the other hand, the Bangladesh government has admitted responsibility for the torture, murder, burning of houses, and looting of minorities and mentioned the arrest of many accused.
The oppressed minority community of Bangladesh was hoping for justice from the international community. The UK always stands for humanity, for the oppressed people. However, due to the suspension of the APPG report, that possibility has been blocked. Rupa Huq has rather behaved inhumanly towards the oppressed minorities of Bangladesh by taking a biased stance towards the anti-humanity Islamic terrorist group.
Writer-journalist, columnist.
Juyel Raaj
