SHEIKH HASINA AND THE RETURN OF FOREIGN DIGNITARIES TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES

Early day motion 1377, tabled 30 April 2007 by Keith Vaz (Labour). Signed by 26 members.

That this House believes that current procedures for handling foreign dignitaries that have been banned by their Government from returning to their home nation are unacceptable; notes the case of Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who was refused permission to board by British Airways to a return flight to Dhaka; understands that British Airways was informed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh that the plane would not be allowed to land and disembark if Sheikh Hasina was aboard; believes that the international travel system should not be used as an arm of the state; further believes that British authorities overreacted with the use of a number of armed police to escort Sheikh Hasina from Heathrow Airport in front of international media when she had committed no crime in the UK; further believes that in such situations the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should make firm representations to the relevant government; and fears that this incident risks setting a precedent for other countries.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.