Speaker returns home after attending IPU conference

Speaker of the National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram returned to Dhaka today after attending the 153rd IPU Assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed formally assumed the chairmanship of the IPU Asia-Pacific Group (APG) on October 5. He took over the responsibility from Bhutan's Speaker Tempa Dorji.

On the same day, at the 153rd IPU Assembly, Barrister Jahnara Adib Chowdhury, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh National Parliament, was elected as a member of the Executive Committee on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group.

With this, Bangladesh has achieved unique glory in international parliamentary diplomacy.

It may be mentioned that 37 countries are members of the Asia-Pacific Group. It is hoped that by taking over this responsibility, Bangladesh's representation in the international parliamentary arena will be further strengthened.

The Speaker's travel companions were — MPs Barrister Jahnara Adib Chowdhury, Sayeed Al Noman, Sanjida Islam Tuli, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, A E Sultan Mahmud Babu, Md Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, S K Azizul Bari, Humam Kader Chowdhury, Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem, Sansila Zebrin and Rokeya Begum, and Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat Barrister Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan.

When the parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the National Parliament landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, concerned officials of the National Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave them a warm reception.