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Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Monday formally assumed the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
He took over the responsibility from Bhutanese Speaker Tempa Dorji in Arusha, Tanzania, where the 153rd IPU Assembly is being held.
The Asia-Pacific Group comprises 37 member countries. Hafiz Uddin’s assumption of the chairmanship is expected to further strengthen Bangladesh’s representation in the international parliamentary arena.
Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan, who is accompanying the Bangladesh parliamentary delegation in Tanzania, confirmed the development.
Meanwhile, Barrister Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was elected a member of the IPU Executive Committee from the Asia-Pacific Group.
She defeated a candidate from Mongolia in an election held on Monday at the 153rd IPU Assembly, with representatives from all 37 APG member countries taking part.
Her election to the IPU Executive Committee is considered a significant achievement for Bangladesh in the international parliamentary arena.
The Bangladesh delegation, led by Speaker Hafiz Uddin, left Dhaka on Sunday to attend the IPU Assembly, which is being held in Arusha from October 5 to 9.
The delegation includes seven other BNP lawmakers and two Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers.
The seven other BNP lawmakers are Whip Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu, Sarwar Jamal Nizam, AE Sultan Mahmud Babu, Md Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas, Sk Azizul Baree, Humam Quader Chowdhury and Sunsila Jabrin. The Jamaat-e-Islami MPs are Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem and Rokeya Begum.
Established in 1889, the IPU is the global organisation of national parliaments. It currently has 183 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members.
This year’s IPU Assembly is being held under the overall theme, “Enhancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusivity, trust and opportunities for all”.
The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the theme of the General Debate.
The Bangladesh delegation is scheduled to return home on October 11.