DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon MPs of the world as well as the global leaders to face the new crisis like militancy together. “Militancy is a global challenge. We have to face the challenge collectively,” she has said.

She was addressing the inaugural session of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly held at the south plaza of the Bangladesh Parliament building in Dhaka on Saturday evening (April 01).

In beginning of her speech, Sheikh Hasina welcomed the guests came from over hundred countries of the world.

She spoke about democracy. She said that the democracy is not only a good system, it is also the vehicle for prosperity and ensuring security of the people. “Bangladesh is proud of democratic heritage. We don’t see the democracy as a system, we also count it as the vehicle of prosperity and ensuring security of the people,” she added.   

She further said that the journey of establishing democracy in Bangladesh was never a smooth one. The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had struggled lifelong for realizing the people’s rights and establishing democracy. He had to endure inhuman repression and persecution, she added.

She continued, “Independent and vibrant mass media act as watchdogs in democratic system. The mass media in Bangladesh expanded greatly during the last few years in one hand, and on the other, wide freedom has been ensured. People’s right to information has also been ensured through enactment of Right to Information Act and establishment of Information Commission.”

The five-day long 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly began in Dhaka focusing on decisive actions to end economic, political and social inequality.

Bangladesh Parliament is hosting the assembly of IPU, the century-old organization of world's legislators, for the first time after joining the forum in 1972.

A total of 1,348 delegates including 650 parliament members, 53 speakers, deputy speakers and 209 women parliamentarians of 131 countries have been attending the mega event.

BDST: 2207 HRS, APR 01, 2017
EHJ