LONDON: European Parliament (EP) expressed concern over the current political situation in Bangladesh and urged its government to ban groups involved in ongoing violence in the country.

EP in its session on Thursday made the call apart from discussing several issues related to Cambodia and Laos.

On Bangladesh, EP members said that the ongoing violence in the name of political movement has crippled the nation.

They commented that the political parties should practise the culture of mutual respect to each other to uphold the tradition of democracy in Bangladesh.

Moreover, the parliament members called for a ban of the political parties, involved in violence in the country.

The EP members further said that the arrested innocent opposition leaders should be released.

They also uttered the assurance of all sorts of cooperation from the European Union to come to a political negotiation in Bangladesh.

BDST: 1242 HRS, JAN 22, 2015