On Tuesday 20 December, the European Union called on Bangladesh not to deport the Rohingya, a minority being persecuted in neighbouring Burma/Myanmar.
Recognising the long-standing solidarity of Bangladesh with those fleeing the violence in Burma, the EU "urged Bangladesh not to deport them or turn them back, but to provide assistance and protection until the situation stabilises and their safe return can be ensured", the European External Action Service (EEAS) stated at the end of a meeting of the sub-group on good governance and human rights, held as part of the EU-Bangladesh cooperation agreement.
The EU delegation, led by Veronica Cody, the head of the EEAS regional affairs division for India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, also encouraged Dhaka to form "an independent, impartial, non-partisan and highly-qualified election commission" with a view to the organisation of the the next general election at the end of 2018 or in early 2019.
The Europeans also asked Bangladesh to make progress on its labour law, especially on trade union freedom. The EU is involved in implementing the multipartite sustainability pact in the textile sector (see EUROPE 11538). Bangladesh is also asked urgently to address the acts of violence and harassment against trade unionists and trade union leaders, and to guarantee investigation of these acts.
More generally, the European delegation underlined its concerns about extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, capital punishment and restrictions on the freedoms of association and expression in Bangladesh. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)