Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary General Anda Filip held a courtesy meeting with opposition leader and Jamaat ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Monday at the opposition leader’s office in the National Parliament Building. IPU Programme Officer Roberto Rodriguez Valencia and Senior Expert Herieno A Angoro were also present at the meeting.

The discussion focused on making the national parliament more effective and developing it into a centre for discussion and dialogue on important national issues. Dr Shafiqur highlighted the opposition’s role in strengthening parliamentary democracy and stressed the importance of equal participation by the government and opposition.

Participants also discussed regular dialogue between the government and opposition on national and international matters, improving the effectiveness of parliamentary committees, and expanding participation by young members of parliament. The IPU secretary general assured continued support from the organization for the advancement of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh. MP Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen, foreign affairs adviser Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem Arman, and advisory committee member Ali Ahmad Mabroor attended.