Bangladesh Awami League has filed a complaint with Anda Filip, secretary general of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), claiming it has been “minused,” or kept excluded, from the 13th National Parliament.
The information surfaced when the visiting IPU delegation, in Dhaka for a three-day visit, faced reporters Monday after touring the National Parliament building and meeting senior government representatives.
National Parliament Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam and opposition MP Aktar Hossain said in a joint briefing that the ousted party had complained to the IPU about being excluded from the election. They said the government had given the IPU delegation a detailed picture of the new constitutional reforms, the formation of a bicameral parliament, and the priority being given to the opposition’s views.
The Bangladesh visit by the IPU delegation, led by secretary general Anda Filip, involved important discussions on parliamentary diplomacy and the current political situation.
During the visit, the IPU delegation toured the parliament building and held separate meetings with the speaker, deputy speaker, opposition representatives, and young and women members of parliament.
Following the meetings, Chief Whip Nurul Islam disclosed detailed information at a briefing held at the National Parliament’s media center.
At the press conference, the government side said the IPU delegates had praised the fair and orderly conduct of the presidential election during the meeting. The discussion also covered the practice of parliamentary democracy in the country and resolving various problems faced by the opposition.
At the briefing, MP Saeed Al Noman said the ongoing constitutional amendments, the proposal to limit any individual to no more than two terms as prime minister, and new proposals for forming upper and lower houses of the legislature were explained in detail to the IPU delegation.
Meanwhile, a striking detail has emerged regarding the complaint filed with the international organization by the former ruling party, the Awami League. At the briefing, opposition MP Aktar Hossain, quoting the IPU delegation, said that while in power, the Awami League always presented false information to the IPU claiming that parliamentary democracy remained intact in the country. But now, after fleeing the country, it is instead complaining that the 13th National Parliament was formed by excluding, or “minusing,” the Awami League.
The three-member delegation led by Anda Filip, in Dhaka for a three-day visit, will also exchange views with senior foreign ministry officials on the strategic aspects of parliamentary diplomacy and strengthening international cooperation. According to the itinerary, Anda Filip is scheduled to leave Dhaka on September 2.