New Zealand has highly praised the proactive role that Bangladesh played in different international forums held recently, according to an official handout received here on Tuesday.
According to the handout, New Zealand Speaker David Carter at a meeting with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh appreciated Dhaka’s role in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Bangladesh will host the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) of CPA in Dhaka on 1-8 November this year.
David Carter also praised the remarkable socio-economic development of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The seven-member standing committee, led by its Chairperson Dr Dipu Moni, met the Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington on August 3.
During the hour-long meeting, they exchanged views on strengthening relationship between the parliaments of the two commonwealth countries.
The committee also sought New Zealand’s support for Dhaka’s campaign for raising awareness about the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh and remembering the victims of the genocide.
Dr Dipu Moni informed the New Zealand Speaker that Bangladesh parliament unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 25 March as ‘Genocide Day’ to remind the present generation of the genocide committed by the Pakistani Army during the nine months in 1971 which started on 25 March, 1971.
She expressed gratitude to Wellington for recognising Bangladesh soon after the independence on 26 January 1972. New Zealand was among the first countries which have accorded recognition to Bangladesh after its independence.
Dr Dipu Moni further apprised the Speaker of the socio-economic development of Bangladesh which was taking place at a fast yet in a balanced manner. She noted that Bangladesh is now cited as ‘role model’ of development for its mantra of “leaving no one behind” and its efforts to deal with the challenges of climate change.
The parliamentary delegation comprises of lawmakers Muhammad Faruk Khan, Golam Faruk Khandakar Prince, Muhammed Suhrab Uddin, Razee Mohammad Fakhrul and Opposition Whip Selim Uddin.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to New Zealand Kazi Imtiaz Hossain joined the delegation from Canberra. Officials of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also accompanied the delegation.
Earlier, the parliamentary delegation held a meeting with New Zealand’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (FADTC), where the Chair of the Committee Todd Muller and other members of the committee were present.
Dr Dipu Moni briefed them about the steps taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in combating terrorism and challenges of climate change in Bangladesh.
They also discussed bilateral trade relationship and increased need for inter-parliamentary cooperation.
The issue of raising global awareness of the genocide in 1971 was also featured prominently in the discussion. Both sides expressed optimism for strengthening relations between parliaments of the two countries.
Earlier, the delegation attended a discussion in commemoration of the
National Mourning Day in Auckland on August 2.
New Zeeland Awami League organised the event presided over by its President
Kazi Hayat Shetu and attended by members of Bangladesh community.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee delegation left Wellington on August 4
for a similar tour in Australia.
