BSS, Dhaka :
Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad and Executive Chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Wednesday said the CPA’s prime objective is to promote inclusive democracy.
“The CPA’s main object is to promote inclusive democracy with practicing and enhancing and to ensure gender equality,” she at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme of Parliament Journalists Association (PJA) at Member’s Club of the Jatiya Sangsad.
Chaired by President of PJA Debashish Chakraborty Uttam, the function was also addressed, among others, by Deputy Speaker M Fazle Rabbi Miah, founder president of PJA M Shafiqul Islam and general secretary Rezaul Haque Raza.
Dr Shirin expressed her hope to improve Bangladesh Parliament to the international level by practicing inclusive democracy.
“The January 5 general election was held following the constitutional procedure and all the parliamentarians won the polls through legal procedure,” she said.
Dr Shirin Sharmin and IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) President Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who was present on the occasion, shared their experiences in the CPA and IPU elections with the journalists.
They said Bangladesh has been put in a dignified position on the world forums due to its victory in the two prestigious and renowned organizations-CPA and IPU.
Replying to a question, Saber Hossain said Bangladesh is now leading 45,000 parliament members and around 600 crore people of 192 democratic countries across the world.
He said that parliamentary standing committees would be more functional and accountable.
Saber, also a former President of Bangladesh Cricket Board, said Bangladesh is leading global parliamentary democracy with winning the two the top posts in the global prestigious bodies.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury is the first female executive chairperson of the CPA. She will lead the 35-member executive committee for the next three years.
On the other hand, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, will lead the IPU for the next three years. Saber is also Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Textile and Jute Ministry.
The PJA presented two crests to the CPA executive chairperson and IPU president.
Conducted by former president of the journalist’s association Ashish Shoikat, the function was also addressed by incumbent general secretary Kamran Reza Chowdhury.
