The lower house of UK's parliament on Wednesday discussed different issues relating to Bangladesh including the latter's commitment to secularism and the murders of four bloggers in the last two years.

Responding to the MPs at the House of Commons, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire said the 440,000-plus people of Bangladeshi origin in the UK made an enormous contribution to British society. That is why the government will continue to work closely with Bangladesh on its democratic path, he said.

Hugo Swire said the murderers of the bloggers must be brought to justice and Bangladesh's government must be unequivocal in protecting those who speak up.

Pointing out the attacks on minorities since the International Crimes Tribunal in February 2013 handed a life sentence to a leading Jamaat-e-Islami figure for war crimes in 1971, Conservative MP Mark Feild called for protection of the 20 million Hindus, Buddhists, 

Christians and indigenous minorities living in Bangladesh.

On Supreme Court's upholding the death sentence on Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed for war crimes, Hugo Swire said while he understood the strong desire to try the war criminals in Bangladesh, the UK remained strongly opposed to use of the death penalty.

On the devastating collapse of Rana Plaza, he said the UK was providing £7.4 million to fund factory inspections, train new inspectors, strengthen factory health and safety, help garment workers to understand their rights and help survivors.

He concluded by welcoming Indian Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Bangladesh. "It is important... to ensure the region's long-term stability and prosperity," he said.