Response to interpellation 2024/25:224 on the democratic development in Bangladesh
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
M believes that it is important that those who have committed abuses are held accountable 1. M wants Sweden to support the transitional government in creating conditions for free and democratic elections as soon as possible 1. M welcomes that Bangladesh has appointed a national commission for enforced disappearances and that the country has signed the UN convention on protection against enforced disappearances 2. M wants to contribute to free and inclusive democratic societies 2. M wants to support the reform process and welcomes the UN commission that has been appointed to review the events during the summer 3. M believes that the work to strengthen democratic freedoms and rights in Bangladesh is a natural part of Sweden standing up for human rights 4. V believes that Sweden must press with greater force so that general, democratic elections can get started 5. V argues that it is necessary for an independent commission to investigate all abuses that have occurred during the last 15 years 5. V believes that Sweden must act in the UN so that such a commission can be appointed 6. V emphasizes that it is a fundamental prerequisite for democratic development that elections take place as soon as possible 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Lotta Johnsson Fornarve has asked me three questions. Firstly, she has asked how I intend to act so that Sweden can support a democratic and peaceful development in Bangladesh, so that free and independent elections can be held as soon as possible.
Secondly, she has asked whether I intend to ensure that Sweden acts in the UN so that work can be initiated to investigate the events surrounding the uprising in July and August 2024, with the aim of holding those responsible for the large number of dead and injured accountable.
Finally, she has asked if I intend to ensure that Sweden acts in the UN so that an independent commission is appointed, which is tasked with investigating enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture in Bangladesh during the last 15 years.
The summer unrest in Bangladesh resulted in many deaths and led to many injuries. It is important that those who have committed abuses are also held accountable.
It is now almost four months since the interim government and its leader, Professor Muhammad Yunus, took office. Bangladesh faces great challenges but also new opportunities.
Sweden, together with other EU countries, has underlined the importance of the transitional government creating conditions for free and democratic elections as soon as possible. My representative, Tobias Billström, underlined in a letter to Professor Yunus the importance of respect for the principles of the rule of law, human rights, and a democratic development in the country. Sweden continues to convey this message to representatives of the transitional government.
Sweden for a continuous dialogue also with other parts of Bangladeshi society, including civil society and the country's various political parties. In all these conversations, we present the importance of democratic development and respect for human rights.
Madam Speaker! Furthermore, Sweden cooperates with the UN in the country to support a democratic and peaceful development. This occurs partly through ongoing aid cooperation, and partly through new types of partnerships. During the autumn, Sweden, for example, initiated a new partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of 20 million kronor for a period of two years. The partnership includes, among other things, technical support to the interim government, including support for transitional justice processes.
Regarding Lotta Johnsson Fornarves second question, I note that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the request of the transitional government, early initiated an independent investigation of the summer's events. A so-called fact-finding mission has been in Bangladesh during the autumn. The first visit was made already two weeks after the previous government fell.
The purpose of the mission is to investigate potential violations of human rights during the summer protests, where over a thousand people are feared to have been killed and many more injured. The mission is tasked with establishing the facts, analyzing the root cause of the summer protests, and identifying how responsibility for the work should be distributed moving forward. It shall also provide concrete recommendations on how Bangladesh should proceed to address the crimes committed.
A final report is expected to be published at the end of the year. Sweden maintains a continuous dialogue with the dispatched delegation and follows its work closely. The mission's report will become an important starting point for Bangladesh in the country's work to investigate the events during the summer protests and in the process of holding those responsible for violations accountable.
Finally, regarding the third of Lotta Johnsson Fornarves' questions, I would like to point out that Sweden, through the UN human rights review mechanism, Universal Periodic Review, has several times submitted recommendations to Bangladesh.
In 2018, the recommendations included, among other things, that Bangladesh should thoroughly investigate extrajudicial killings, abductions, and enforced disappearances carried out by the security forces and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. In 2023, Bangladesh was urged to review its laws and processes to reduce the extent of harassment in the justice system.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer to my interpellation. I am quite satisfied with the answer and think it is good that we have received clarity regarding several areas concerning the developments in Bangladesh and Sweden's actions, but I am still not completely satisfied.
At the beginning of August 2024, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned to Bangladesh to lead the interim government that replaced the previous regime under Sheikh Hasina, who was forced to flee the country after extensive popular protests. The newly appointed interim government offers hope for democratic development with respect for human rights. However, it is required that the work to conduct just and free elections begins as soon as possible.
It is good that the former Foreign Minister Tobias Billström conveyed this in a letter to Professor Yunus and that the government continues to convey this message. It is also obviously positive that the government has initiated a new partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights which includes, among other things, technical support to the interim government, including support for transitional justice processes.
It has now been four months since the interim government took office, an interim government which, even though it appears to have good intentions, is not democratically elected. I mean that it is important that Sweden pushes with a bit more force so that the process of carrying out general, democratic elections will really get underway. Does the government intend to do that? It may be time to follow up the letter with a bit more clarity that we consider it extremely important that the elections take place. Otherwise, there is a risk that the discontent will flare up again. It is also important that parties and party representatives who are currently in exile are granted the right to return in order to be able to participate in the election process.
It is also, as the Minister pointed out, extremely important to support civil society, which plays an extremely important role for a democratic development in the country.
It is also certainly positive that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has initiated a so-called fact-finding mission in Bangladesh during the autumn to investigate any human rights violations during the summer protests, where over a thousand people are believed to have been killed and many more injured and arrested. This is, of course, a task that must be closely followed. But it is also necessary that an independent commission investigates all abuses that have occurred during the last 15 years. Here, I hope that the government can push for such a task to be realized.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! I am truly horrified by the reports of the number of dead and injured during the summer protests. Likewise, I am horrified by the reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture in Bangladesh.
Let me be very clear: violations of human rights can never be justified. It is incredibly important that these types of crimes are investigated and that those responsible are held accountable.
It is positive that Bangladesh has recently appointed a national commission with a focus on enforced disappearances. This commission is supported by Sweden through the partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The focus is on providing technical support to the commission. I also particularly welcome that Bangladesh's transitional government recently signed the UN Convention on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, already during its first month in power.
In Sweden's global strategy for work on human freedoms and rights, democracy and the principles of the rule of law for 2024-2028, the government clearly marks how important these issues are. The strategy's overall goal is to contribute to free, safe, just and inclusive democratic societies that are free from oppression and that are built on respect for human freedoms and rights and the principles of the rule of law. People who are subjected to violence, discrimination, persecution and oppression shall be the focus of the work to realize human freedoms and rights.
Sweden continues to monitor the situation and the development of human rights in Bangladesh. This is done, in particular, through our embassy in Dhaka as well as the EU delegation in the country.
I am pleased that Lotta Johnsson Fornarve was somewhat satisfied with the answer. It is over anyway, I experience, as is usually the case with answers to interpellations. I hope that I can please her a little more by saying that Sweden has actually followed up on my predecessor's letter. During the week, Sweden's ambassador in Bangladesh had the opportunity to meet Chief Adviser Yunus. Sweden then conveyed several messages about the importance of democracy, equality, and human rights. The meeting was a good opportunity for dialogue regarding both common issues and Bangladesh's current political situation and future, a future that Sweden believes should be built on democratic values and respect for human rights.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for further answers! I still think we were in agreement on quite a lot, not just a little. There are, however, some things that I think the government can do even better.
It was very good that the ambassador recently met with the interim government and pressed for general, free elections. I hope that work will truly continue. This is incredibly important. It is a fundamental prerequisite for democratic development that elections take place as soon as possible. It is also important that the world supports Bangladesh and sends election observers to monitor that the elections become truly free and democratic. The longer the time passes after the interim government took over, the greater the risk that discontent will flare up again. We must, of course, avoid that by all means.
Bangladesh is a country that has been characterized by violence and persecution over the last 15 years. A large number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances have taken place. According to human rights monitors in Bangladesh, security forces have carried out over 600 enforced disappearances since 2009. Some have been released, but it is still unclear what has happened to at least 100 people.
According to reports, police have killed more than 450 people in 2018, under the pretext that it occurred as part of the war on drugs. But reports from activists say that it was actually a way to intimidate members of the opposition and silence critics. During the protests between July 15 and August 5, 2024, at least a thousand people were killed, as we heard earlier. Thousands were injured, and ten thousand people were arrested.
It is good that Sweden has raised the issue through the UN human rights review mechanism, the Universal Periodic Review. I do not believe, however, that it is sufficient. For Bangladesh to be able to move forward and build a democratic society, people must become aware of what happened to their loved ones. It is necessary to heal the wounds and rebuild trust. Then one must get to the bottom of all the abuses that have occurred during the last 15 years, and those responsible must, of course, be held accountable. On that, I believe we are in complete agreement.
I mean that Sweden must therefore act in the UN so that an independent commission is appointed which is tasked with investigating enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture in Bangladesh over the last 15 years. It is not enough to only investigate this summer's events. That must, of course, be done, but one must go further back in time and investigate all abuses that have occurred during the last 15 years in order to truly be able to rebuild democracy and trust in the country again. Will Sweden work for such a commission?
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! There are great expectations for Bangladesh's transitional government. Both among the people of Bangladesh and among Sweden, the EU, and the UN, there is hope that Bangladesh, after many years of diminished democratic space, will now begin a democratization process. The transitional government's inauguration and the ambition to reform the institutions are welcomed. So far, about ten commissions have been appointed to investigate how the reforming of, among other things, the constitution, the judiciary and police, as well as the electoral system, can be carried out.
The transition government's most important task moving forward will obviously be to prepare the country for democratic elections. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that Bangladesh's population is given the opportunity to vote for the country's future leaders within a reasonable timeframe. It is only through free, independent and general elections that legitimacy can be achieved.
For Sweden's part, there is a long history of support for democracy, human rights, and the principles of the rule of law in Bangladesh. Sweden has for many years been a major donor of bilateral aid to the country. The current bilateral aid strategy for 2021-2025 covers 1.75 billion kronor. Our aid focuses, among other things, on programs linked to democratic governance, accountability, and reduced corruption. We are also considering further interventions in cooperation with the UN Development Programme that can provide technical support to the recently appointed national commissions for reform of the judiciary and the police force.
Through our civil society aid partners, we are actively working to assist the reform processes. One example is Transparency International Bangladesh's advocacy towards the national anti-corruption commission. The EU has also promised to mobilize support and expertise to assist and support Bangladesh's transitional government in its work to implement inclusive democratic reforms that respect human rights, the principles of the rule of law, and good governance.
Overall, we can conclude that the coming years are very important for Bangladesh's future. Sweden wants to and will support the country in this important reform process. We welcome the commission that has been appointed by the UN, as it is important that what has happened during the summer is examined. We will, of course, follow this work closely, and Sweden rules nothing out moving forward.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the further answer, and I am pleased that we are in complete agreement that general, free and democratic elections must be held in Bangladesh as soon as possible. It is, as said, a fundamental prerequisite for democratic development. Even though the interim government currently in power has good intentions, it is not democratically elected, and the longer time passes, the greater the risk that discontent will flare up again. It is therefore important that elections are held as soon as possible, and I therefore hope that the Swedish government continues to press, preferably with even more force, so that the elections can take place.
It is very important that Bangladesh addresses all the abuses that have occurred during the last 15 years. Sweden must therefore act in the UN so that an independent commission is appointed, which is tasked with investigating enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture in Bangladesh during this period. It is not enough to investigate only this summer's events; one must go further back in time to heal the wounds in Bangladesh so that the country can move forward, build democracy, and create trust in society again.
Utrikesministern Maria Malmer Stenergard (M)
Madam Speaker! Sweden has always stood up for human rights in international contexts, and our work to strengthen democratic freedoms and rights in Bangladesh is a natural part of this commitment. Our engagement within the EU and various multilateral organizations also plays a very important role in our support for the democratic forces and development in the country.
Overall, Sweden's historical commitment as well as our new initiatives and commitments constitute an important contribution to ensuring that the people of Bangladesh can shape their own future as soon as possible through free, fair and independent elections.
As I said earlier, I welcome the reviews being conducted by the UN. We are following this work closely and look forward to receiving the report shortly, and as I said, we rule nothing out moving forward.
Many thanks to the interpellor for raising this important issue!
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.