Bangladesh, Kosovo agree to explore broader parliamentary ties

The issues were discussed when Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Lulzim Plana paid a courtesy call on Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the Speaker said Bangladesh and Kosovo shared common experiences of independence and cultural ties, noting that the people of Kosovo had made the ultimate sacrifices for their country’s independence.

He said the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined over the past 17 years through what he described as farcical elections.

Hafiz Uddin alleged that the previous Awami League government had established a reign of terror through enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial executions and vote rigging.

Referring to the United Nations fact-finding report, he said it had exposed the atrocities and brutality of the previous government.

The Speaker said the July 2024 mass uprising had ended Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule and paved the way for Bangladesh’s renewed democratic journey.

Describing the people of Bangladesh as democracy-loving, he said the 13th parliamentary election was one of the freest, fairest and most credible elections in the country’s history.

Hafiz Uddin added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to fulfil people’s aspirations.

Ambassador Plana said a new democratic chapter had begun in Bangladesh, praising the active participation of lawmakers in parliamentary debates.

He said a large section of Bangladesh’s population was young and of working age, adding that access to quality education and information technology skills could help them contribute more to the national economy.

The Kosovo ambassador expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for recognising Kosovo as an independent state and invited the Speaker to visit Kosovo.

Both sides stressed the need to form parliamentary friendship groups between the two countries and expand trade and investment, joint academic and research activities, and exchanges in sports and culture.

Representatives of the Kosovo Embassy, the secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat and other senior officials were present at the meeting, reports UNB.