The “Bangladesh at the Crossroads” seminar was held in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords on Wednesday, 28 January 2026. The event was hosted by Lord Rami Ranger and jointly organised by Politika News, the Centre for Global Policy and Governance, and the Northampton British Bangladeshi Business Chamber.
The meeting was formally welcomed by Councillor Naz Islam of Northampton Town Council and presided over by Lord Rami Ranger. A cross-party discussion and interactive Q&A session followed, moderated by Tanvir Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief of Politika News. The keynote address was delivered by Barrister Sonjoy Kumar Roy, Co-Founder of the Centre for Global Policy and Governance.
Lord Rami Ranger’s Address
Delivering a deeply personal and wide-ranging speech, Lord Rami Ranger urged Bangladesh to pursue a future grounded in secular democracy, tolerance, respect for diversity, and the rule of law, warning against political division, religious misuse, and reliance on external powers.
“No superpower will save a nation from within,” Lord Ranger said.
“Only its people, its values, and its vision can.”
He praised the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United Kingdom for its resilience, hard work, and contribution to British society, highlighting how visibility, education, and leadership within the community inspire future generations. Referring to Britain’s success as a multicultural society, Lord Ranger said progress was built on respect for faith, equality before the law, and protection of minorities.
Drawing on his own life experiences, he cautioned against the politicisation of religion, arguing that faith should remain a personal matter rather than a mechanism of control. He stressed that national development cannot be achieved without empowering citizens, particularly women, through education, opportunity, and good governance.
Lord Ranger also warned that global powers act out of strategic interest rather than loyalty, urging Bangladesh to rely on internal unity and democratic values rather than external alliances. He expressed sorrow over the erosion of respect for Bangladesh’s historical legacy and appealed to community leaders and the diaspora to engage constructively in safeguarding the country’s democratic foundations.
Remarks by Bob Blackman CBE MP
Robert John Blackman CBE MP, Member of Parliament for Harrow East, attended the seminar as a Special Guest and reflected on the deep historical relationship between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. Recalling Britain’s support during Bangladesh’s 1971 War of Independence under Prime Minister Edward Heath, he noted that Bangladesh’s founding leader made one of his earliest international visits to the UK, underscoring the longstanding ties between the two nations.
Addressing Bangladesh’s current political situation, Mr Blackman said that while international attention had focused on protests and the tragic loss of student lives during the previous government’s tenure, developments following the change in government had raised serious concerns about democratic stability and the rule of law.
“The credibility of any election depends on participation, inclusivity, and public confidence,” he said, adding that opinion polling suggested a significant proportion of the Bangladeshi population continues to support political parties currently unable to participate freely in the electoral process.
“If political parties are prevented from standing in elections, democracy itself is placed under question,” Mr Blackman warned, noting that bans, boycotts, or exclusions ultimately weaken representative governance.
He also expressed concern over reports of a proposed referendum that could fundamentally alter Bangladesh’s constitutional direction, cautioning that any attempt to influence voters through intimidation or coercion would be incompatible with democratic norms and could have lasting consequences for the country’s stability.
Turning to human rights, Mr Blackman said documented attacks against religious and minority communities—including Hindus, Christians, and minority Muslim groups—were matters of serious concern.
“These are not social media fabrications,” he said. “They are documented cases involving real victims, including killings, arson, and the destruction of homes and places of worship.”
He urged members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UK to engage actively with their local Members of Parliament and called for stronger scrutiny and a more proactive response from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Mr Blackman concluded by reaffirming his commitment to raising these issues in Parliament before departing due to parliamentary duties.
Panellists and Contributors
The seminar featured contributions and participation from Anwar Choudhury, former British diplomat and senior foreign service figure; Shahagir Bakth Faruk MSc, Adviser Emeritus of the British Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Osama Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Wales; Nadira Naznin Rakhi, DPhil student at the University of Oxford and Lecturer at the University of Dhaka; MA Rouf, Trustee of the Northampton Bangladeshi Association; Dr Zaki Rezwana Anwar, Mother and Child Health Specialist; Mitu Choudhury, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Caterers Association (UK); Bashir Ahmed BEM, Chairman of Prospect Gaze Limited and former President of the British Bangladeshi Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Professor Dr Sanawar Choudhury, CEO of RCI Accountancy; Professor Dr Habib-e-Millat, President of the Global Centre for Democratic Governance; Aminul Haque, former diplomat and intelligence officer of Bangladesh; Md Razib Parvez, Founder of the Governance Policy Explore Centre; Haradhan Bhowmik, former President of the Sarbojanin Baba Lokenath Association (UK); Moinul Islam Monju, Michael Murphy, and Syed Ali Ziru, Barristers and Human Rights Lawyers; Ameena Tabassum, Author and Data Professional; Harmuz Ali, President of the Bangladesh Welfare Association; Ansar Ahmed Ullah, Journalist at The Daily Star; Shofa Miah, Director of Newham Voices and Ashok’s Vision; Md Zakir Hussain, Director of Community Careline Medway Ltd; and Adity Roy, Choreographer and Dancer and Syed Ali Ziru, Barrister and Human Rights Lawyer.