Bangladeshis in UK protest firebombing

Bangladeshis in London demonstrated outside the UK parliament Tuesday protesting against the atrocities being carried out by the "BNP in alliance with the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami" against innocent people of Bangladesh.

The protest was arranged by a number of socio-political organisations under the banner of UK All Party Alliance against Violence & Terrorism in Bangladesh.

Several British MPs, including Gordon Bristwistle, Steve Reed, Jessica Morden, Sir Alan Meale and shadow minister Stephen Timms, came to speak to the activists to pledge their support for a secular democratic Bangladesh and condemned violence.

Following the protest, a memorandum was handed in at 10 Downing Street addressed to British Prime Minister David Cameron. The memo reads, "Having boycotted the 2014 general election, the BNP/Jamaat-e-Islami appears hell bent on ousting the government via force and violence. With daily violence the political crisis is fast approaching the point of no return and could gravely destabilise Bangladesh."

The violence and arson attacks have severely disrupted public life since the BNP-led 20-party alliance started an indefinite blockade on January 6. So far 75 people have been killed and hundreds injured.

In addition, scores of buses, trucks and vans have been burnt, while the suspension of transport movement has taken a serious toll on the economy.

The memo urges the UK to assist Bangladesh in its struggle to remain a secular democracy.