Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Thursday highlighted the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Germany, saying Berlin has supported Dhaka since the country’s independence.
He made the remarks when a German parliamentary delegation led by Bundestag member Nicklas Kappe paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
The delegation included Bundestag members Gerold Otten, Johann Saadhoff and Ulle Schauws, along with German Ambassador to Bangladesh Rüdiger Lotz.
During the meeting, the Speaker said Germany is the second-largest destination for Bangladesh’s export products in the European market.
He also discussed opportunities to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy through the formation of a Bangladesh-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The two sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation between the two parliaments and discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh.
Briefing the delegation on Bangladesh’s political history, Hafiz Uddin said the country had held elections since 1937 but remained behind in terms of democratic practices.
He said Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 through a struggle for democratic rights, but the country could not establish the desired level of democracy for a long period.
The Speaker alleged that the Awami League government weakened people’s voting rights through three consecutive “farcical elections”, which he said affected the democratic process.
He said a mass uprising led by students and people took place against enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial killings and what he described as “farcical elections” during the authoritarian period.
Against this backdrop, he said democracy was restored through an acceptable and neutral election.
The Speaker highlighted the contribution of Khaleda Zia, describing her as Bangladesh’s first elected woman prime minister.
He said her role in women’s political and economic empowerment remained significant.
Hafiz Uddin said the people of Bangladesh had repeatedly sacrificed for democratic rights, and their determination and struggle had helped restore democracy.
He also informed the delegation about women’s representation in the current parliament.
He said six women lawmakers were elected through popular votes, while 50 women lawmakers were elected from reserved seats. All of them, he added, are highly educated and established in their respective fields.
The Speaker said the government is working to improve freedom of expression and the human rights situation in Bangladesh in line with international standards.
Representatives of the German Embassy and officials from the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.
