To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the caretaker Government of Bangladesh about lifting the state of emergency before the commencement of the campaign period for the elections in December. (231049)

When my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, visited Bangladesh in October, he reiterated to the caretaker Government, the main political parties, civil society and the media the UK's support for fair and credible elections. He made clear that the lifting of the state of emergency would be a major step towards this goal.