The 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, one of the largest annual gatherings of commonwealth parliamentarians will take place in Dhaka from November 1-8.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) president and speaker of the parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury made the announcement today in a press conference.

Themed ‘Continuing to enhance the high standards of performance of parliamentarians’, the gathering will see participation of over 600 foreign delegates.

Also, representatives from the United Nations and other international agencies will be invited to attend the annual conference.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the vice patron of the commonwealth parliamentary conference, will inaugurate the conference on November 5 at South Plaza of the parliament.

The conference will be a critical year for the CPA as members will elect their new chairperson for a three year term. 

Responding to a query, Speaker Shirin Sharmin said the Rohingya issue is not on the agenda of CPA conference, but can be discussed at a scheduled workshop focused on nationalism.

Akbar Khan, secretary general of the CPA, told the press conference that he is confident that someone will raise the humanitarian issue of Rohingyas at the conference.