Govt committed to making JS centre of all works, PM told UK team

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FE Team | Published: November 04, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

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Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina told a British delegation comprising lawmakers Tuesday that her present government was deeply committed to making the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) centre of all public-welfare activities.
"As a rare example in the history of Bangladesh's parliamentary practice, chairmen of seven parliamentary standing committees have been selected from the opposition side," the Prime Minister told the delegation.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh could enrich its parliamentary practices through learning from the glorious history of the Westminster democracy of the United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister sought the UK government's cooperation in providing offices and other necessary supports to Bangladesh lawmakers for their more effective role in the country's democracy.
The Prime Minister also sought more cooperation from the British government and its Department for International Development (DFID) for attaining the development targets in Bangladesh's socio-economic sectors.
The Prime Minister made the remarks and request when the nine-member delegation of British International Development Committee (IDC) paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister's Office, reports UNB.
John Battle MP, Hugh Bayley MP, Malcolm Bruce MP, Nigel Evans MP, Mark Hendrick MP, Mark Lancester MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Marsh Singh MP and Andrew Stunell MP were on the delegation.
At the outset of the meeting, the British IDC delegation recalled the supreme sacrifice of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members in attaining the country's independence, sovereignty and establishing democracy.
The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to the international community, including the United Kingdom and other European countries, for their support and assistance for the people of Bangladesh in holding the December 29, 2008 general elections in a free, fair, neutral and acceptable manner.
The Prime Minister said the government has taken the massive victory in the general elections as a great responsibility and is working relentlessly for poverty alleviation, women empowerment, ensuring quality education and health facilities for the people of all walks of lives.
The Prime Minister said the British government and its DFID could help the present government with more assistance for achieving the development goals.
In reply, the British team assured the Prime Minister of providing all necessary cooperation in attaining the socio-economic development targets of the country.
Various other issues of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh and Britain were also discussed in the meeting.