DETENTION AND TREATMENT OF SHEIKH HASINA

That this House is concerned at the continuing detention in Bangladesh of former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Sheikh Hasina; notes the BBC News Report of 3rd December 2007 that the main witness against her, her cousin Mr Sheikh Selim has sought to withdraw his statement, with his lawyer Syed Rezaur telling the court that Sheikh Selim was tortured repeatedly when he was on remand, and that at one stage, he could not bear the pressure and agreed to give the confessional statement; further notes that reports of interrogation under torture to obtain confessions in Bangladesh are well documented by international human rights organisations, such as Human Rights Watch; and on this basis is concerned that the case against Sheikh Hasina is politically motivated and risks not being a fair trial.