UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday described the winning of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) by two Bangladeshi candidates as democracy’s world victory.
“It’s democracy’s world victory,” she told a reception accorded to Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Saber Hossain Chowdhury for being elected as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) chairperson and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president.
Jatiya Sangsad organised the programme at its South Plaza with Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazle Rabbi in the chair.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the first by any Bangladeshi, at the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé on October 9. Dr Sharmin will lead the 35-member executive committee for the next three years.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP was elected president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on October 16 for the next three years. Saber, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Textile and Jute Ministry, was elected IPU president defeating his nearest rival Speaker of Australia’s House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop by 169-95 votes at the
131st assembly of IPU in Geneva of Switzerland. Saber has become the third IPU president from South Asiaafter Najma Heptulla (1999-2002) and Gurdial Singh Dhillon (1973-1976).
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the people of Bangladesh for reposing their trust and faith in Awami League saying that it has established democracy in the country after overcoming so many obstacles.
“We’ve overcome so many hurdles and obstacles, we’ve climbed mountains of hurdles repeatedly, but after that we’ve been able to hold the wheel of democracy firmly and ensured it. That’s why democracy marched ahead in the country,” she said adding this would not have been done without people’s support.
Hasina said Bangladesh had lost its memberships in these two organisations – CPA and IPU – in 1975 after Bangabandhu’s assassination and in 1982 after the proclamation of martial law and in 2008 when the caretaker government was in power. “But we regained the memberships after establishing democracy in the country…now Bangladesh has been elected chairperson and president of these organizations, too.”
Turning to the criticisms against the government and the last national election, the Prime Minister said, “Self-confidence is a must for a politician, politician has to take the right decision at the right time. This is what can move the country and its people ahead.”
Describing various steps taken by her government for the country’s development, Hasina said she firmly believes Bangladesh would be able to come out of poverty by 2021.
She said her government wants to turn the country’s huge population into resources through education and mentioned the programmes of free distribution of textbooks, making education free upto degree level and introduction of stipends.
Earlier, Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Mia read out a facilitation message of President Abdul Hamid at the function, while Chief Whip ASM Feroz delivered the welcome speech and senior secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Ashraful Mokbul gave the vote of thanks.
British High Commissioner Robert Gibson and Indian Deputy High Commissioner Sandeep Chakravorty spoke at the programme from the diplomatic crops.
Leader of the opposition Raushon Ershad, Jatiya Party (JP) chairman and Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu, Fazle Hossain Badsha of Workers’ Party, Independent MP Dr Rustam Ali Farazi also spoke on the occasion.
Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP shared their feelings about being elected as the CPA chairperson and IPU president respectively.
Later, the Prime Minister enjoyed a colourful cultural programme.
