DHAKA: Led by the Jean Lambert, Chairperson of the Delegation for relations with South Asia, a team of the European Parliament will come to Bangladesh on March 24 on a two-day visit.

This mission comes ahead of the first anniversary of the catastrophic Rana Plaza building collapse, which cost over a thousand lives of garment workers.

During the visit, the Members of the European Parliament will discuss with relevant stakeholders regarding the implementation of the measures adopted to improve factory safety and workers` rights, notably the EU-Bangladesh Global Sustainability Compact.

Concerned that the political parties did not manage to agree on an inclusive mechanism for the January 2014 elections, the EP delegation will discuss the post-election scenario as well as social and economic issues with key Bangladeshi decision-makers and civil society representatives.

During the visit, the EP delegation plans to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker of Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia, and representatives of civil society.

Members of the cross-party EP delegation include Jean Lambert, John Attard-Montalto, Salvador Sedo i Alabart, Niccolò Rinaldi.

BDST: 1221 HRS, MAR 22, 2014