It proves global confidence in current govt, JS
Bangladesh's victory in the top two international parliament-based organisations proves that the world leaders have full confidence in the country's democracy, parliament and government, said Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday.
Besides, there is no crisis regarding the January 5 poll, which had been labelled as non-inclusive, said Shirin who has become the first Bangladeshi to be the chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
“I do not think there is any crisis over the election. Had there been a problem, Bangladesh would not have been elected in two key parliament-based international forums in a span of 10 days,” she said replying to a query at a press conference at the VIP Lounge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who was chosen to be the president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Thursday, also spoke at the conference organised to brief the media about the duo's victories.
Bagging 169 votes in the election, Saber defeated Speaker of Australia's House of Representatives Bronwyn Bishop by 74 votes, the biggest margin to date.
Shirin defeated her lone rival Juliana O'Connor-Connoly, Speaker of the legislative assembly of the Cayman Islands, by three votes.
Shirin returned home from Cameroon yesterday afternoon after being elected chairperson of the CPA.
At the press conference, the Speaker termed their victories the victory of Bangladesh, its people, 10th parliament, democracy and the government.
She said they represented the present parliament in the elections to the international forums.
Shirin said Bangladesh has set an example to the world by being elected in two international forums simultaneously.
Saber Chowdhury said Bangladesh has achieved leadership position in the global forums.
“The victories are big steps to move forward in the international arena, which we could not even think about just 10 years ago,” he said, adding that a total of 185 countries are members of the CPA and the IPU out of 192 countries which have parliament system.
Replying to a query on the reason behind his victory with the biggest vote difference, Saber said the result was an outcome of a team effort, and understanding the pulse of the voters.
Another reason was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's confidence about victory in the elections, said Saber, a former political secretary to Hasina.
The deputy speaker, chief whip, whips, several lawmakers and parliament officials were present at the press conference.
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