Bangladeshis demand cancellation of bill in parliament to legalize voluntary death in UK

In the UK, a person suffering from a long-term illness can ensure their death by taking medication prescribed by a doctor if they wish. A bill called 'Assisted Dying' has been introduced in the British Parliament to legalize voluntary death. If the bill becomes law, sick people will be able to die by taking medicine - which in Islam is considered suicide. So Muslims and non-Muslims of different religions have taken a stand against this bill.

The bill will be tabled in Parliament for a second reading on November 29. MPs have been urged to oppose it. In addition, British Bangladeshis from all walks of life in the UK have been requested to write letters to their MPs urging them to vote against it.

This call was made at a press conference organized by Thirteen River Trust and Muslim Burial Fund at the London Bangla Press Club office on Friday, November 15 at noon. Eden Care Program Manager Nadira Huda, Thirteen Rivers Trust Abu Mumin, Muslim Burial Fund Manager Yusuf Khan, and MBF Ambassador Aminur Chowdhury spoke at the press conference.

The proposed bill calls for those diagnosed with a long-term illness with a life expectancy of six months or less. If the bill becomes law, they will be able to die with a doctor's advice.

The Act will have a significant impact on minorities, people on low incomes, people with disabilities, and people with mental health problems in the UK. A disabled or mentally challenged person may feel burdened by his family. So, the family may push him to death.

Abu Mumin said the elderly population is very neglected in the Bangladeshi community in Britain. In many cases, children do not want to care for their parents. So when a mother or father is suffering from a long-term illness and the family members are not there, he or she may agree to die through medication.