Anda Filip, secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently visiting Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on Dr Shafiqur Rahman, leader of the opposition in the National Parliament and Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami.
The meeting was held Monday, August 31, in a warm and cordial atmosphere at the opposition leader’s office in the National Parliament building.
The IPU secretary general was accompanied by the organization’s program officer, Roberto Rodriguez Valencia, and senior expert Heriberto A Angoro.
During the meeting, they held detailed discussions on making the National Parliament more effective and turning it into the center of all important discussions and dialogue. The opposition leader highlighted the opposition’s role in strengthening parliamentary democracy and the importance of equitable participation between the ruling and opposition parties in parliament.
The discussion also emphasized the need to maintain regular talks and dialogue between members of the ruling and opposition parties on important national and international issues.
They also discussed increasing the effectiveness of parliamentary committees and boosting the participation of young lawmakers, one of the IPU’s key priorities.
The IPU secretary general assured continued overall cooperation from the organization in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democratic progress. At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed hope for continued mutual cooperation and communication.
Present with the opposition leader during the meeting were National Parliament member Barrister Najib Momen, the opposition leader’s foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, and Ali Ahmad Mabrur, a member of the opposition leader’s foreign affairs advisory committee.
Also joining the meeting as special guests were four fighters injured in the July mass uprising: Jasimuddin Khan, Kamrul Hasan, Rifat Howlader and Zakir Sikder.