The Bangladesh government summoned the acting UK High Commissioner in Dhaka Javed Patel on Sunday to convey its disappointment with certain issues including the current status of former prime minister Khaleda Zia mentioned in the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2020 released by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last Thursday.

The acting high commissioner (AHC) was told that it was grossly misleading to use the words "house arrest" about the current situation of Khaleda Zia, principal opposition leader and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), according to a media statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

In 2018, Zia was jailed for a total of 17 years for embezzling funds related to two orphanage trusts set up while she had been serving as the prime minister.

The Bangladesh government clarified to Patel that on the application of r Khaleda Zia’s brother, it had - as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 -- suspended her prison sentence and "released" her in March 2020 on condition that she would receive medical treatment at home and would not travel abroad.

It was pointed out that the suspension of her sentence and release from prison, applicable for an initial six-month period, were subsequently extended twice in September 2020 and March 2021, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The Foreign Ministry advised the envoy to consult the authorities concerned with the government in case of any confusion over such legal issues. It was further suggested that any official document of the UK government also refrain from using any form of insinuating and misleading statements about the government of Bangladesh or the ruling Awami League.

From the government's side, concerns were also raised over the use of the number of Rohingyas now temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh.

Foreign Ministry officials reiterated the government's position on certain terminologies used in the report about Bangladesh that are either not internationally agreed upon or not recognized by Bangladesh's laws.

The acting high commissioner took note of the government's views and assured of conveying those to the authorities concerned. He said that the UK valued its diversified partnership with Bangladesh, and wished to continue a constructive dialogue on human rights and governance issues through the established mechanisms.

The officials on both sides agreed on the importance of using authentic sources of information for citations in official documents or reports.

(SAM)