Democracy in Bangladesh on solid ground: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that democracy in Bangladesh now stands on a solid foundation having been practiced for the last two decades.

"The democracy of the country resumed its journey after 21 long years of the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. After practicing it in the last two decades, it now stands on a solid ground," she said.

The prime minister made the remarks when a 37-member delegation of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban on Tuesday.

The delegation comprised 37 MPs from 27 parliaments from different countries under nine commonwealth zones.

Chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) executivecommittee and Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury led the delegation.

Prime minister's press secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri briefed the reporters after the meeting.

Referring to the 26th commonwealth parliamentary seminar being held in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on interaction among the Parliaments around the world saying that it would further consolidate democracy across the globe.

The Prime Minister thanked the CPA for choosing Bangladesh as the host of the 26th commonwealth parliamentary seminar.

She also appreciated the organisers of the seminar for selecting a time-befitting topic - "Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy" -

saying that it would further strengthen parliamentary democracy of the respective countries.

At the meeting, members of the delegation lauded the prime minister for ensuring women’s empowerment in Bangladesh.

In this connection they noted that at present the prime minister, speaker, opposition leader and deputy leader of the parliament are

women.

They also praised Sheikh Hasina for introduction of question-answer session in the jatiya sangsad from her first term in government in

1996, saying the initiative has ensured the accountability of the prime minister and the government.