France has proposed strengthening parliamentary ties with Bangladesh and increasing French investment in oil and gas exploration and drilling in the country’s coastal areas.
A French parliamentary delegation made the proposals during a meeting with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad at his office on Tuesday. The delegation comprised French senators Pierre-Alain Roiron, Olivier Henno and Guillaume Chevrollier.
The delegation emphasised expanding parliamentary diplomacy through the formation of a France-Bangladesh parliamentary committee.
It also stressed increasing French investment in exploring and drilling for oil and gas in Bangladesh’s coastal areas.
On behalf of the French Senate, the delegation invited the Speaker and a Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation to visit France.
During the meeting, Hafiz Uddin said France had been a tested friend of Bangladesh since the Liberation War.
He said France is Bangladesh’s second-largest trading destination in Europe and expressed hope that bilateral relations would be further strengthened through the formation of a France-Bangladesh Parliamentary Caucus.
The Speaker also said the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined during the 15-year “authoritarian rule” of the Awami League.
Saying that the people of Bangladesh are democracy-loving, he said they had never surrendered to autocratic rule and had upheld their respect for democracy.
Hafiz Uddin also praised the significant role played by French citizen Andre Malraux during Bangladesh’s Liberation War and paid tribute to his memory.
