Desk Correspondent , London - Conservative MP Bob Blackman delivered a powerful speech in the British Parliament on January 16, 2026, highlighting a "disturbing pattern" of violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Blackman reported that Hindu men are being murdered on the streets, while homes and temples are being systematically burnt by extremist forces. He called upon the UK’s Labour government to push the interim regime of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to pledge immediate protection for religious minorities and to ensure that the upcoming national elections, scheduled for February 12, are genuinely fair and inclusive.

The MP expressed grave concerns over the democratic legitimacy of the upcoming polls, noting that the Awami League—a major political party with significant public support—has been banned from participating. Blackman warned that holding elections while excluding a key political faction and ignoring the rise of Islamist extremists, who are reportedly calling for a constitutional referendum, undermines the very essence of a "free and fair" process. He urged the British Foreign Secretary to issue a formal statement on the actions being taken to safeguard the rights of Hindus and other vulnerable groups in the South Asian nation.

India has also weighed in on the crisis, with the Ministry of External Affairs emphasizing the need for the Bangladeshi authorities to deal with communal incidents "swiftly and firmly." The international outcry comes as the Yunus-led interim government, supported by the military, struggles to maintain order following the violent ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. Blackman’s appeal in the House of Commons joins a growing chorus of global voices demanding that the interim administration prioritize human rights and pluralism to prevent a total collapse into sectarian chaos.