UK condemns ‘intimidation and violence’ in Bangladesh election

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain on Monday condemned what it called “acts of intimidation and violence” that took place during the general election in Bangladesh, raising concerns over the number of arrests of opposition party members.

“Democratic elections depend on credible, open, and fair competition. Respect for human rights, rule of law and due process are essential elements of the democratic process. These standards were not consistently met during the election period,” the British government’s foreign office said in a statement.

“We are concerned at the significant number of arrests of opposition party members before polling day,” the statement added after Sunday’s general election in the South Asian country gave incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a fourth straight term in power.