JS needs improvement to reach int'l standard

Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad “will have to be improved” to reach “an international standard” and this can be achieved if political parties reach consensus and make a commitment, said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, president of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), yesterday.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), said 153 lawmakers were elected unopposed, in line with the Representation of the People Order, through the January 5 national polls.

The statements came during a reception accorded by Bangladesh Parliament Journalist Association for the duo being the first Bangladeshis to be elected on October 16 and 9 respectively to lead the international parliamentary bodies representing over 45,000 lawmakers of 192 countries with a population of around 650 crore.

In reply to a query, Saber said democratic practices cannot be developed bypassing parliament.

“We are moving forward in terms of parliamentary democracy but we will have to do more in this regard. Political parties will have to be selective over whom they are nominating as MPs because quality of parliament also depends on MPs,” he added.

He also stressed the need for enacting a law on the code of conduct of lawmakers in parliament.

Asked if their wins could be compared to the moon and the January 5 election, through which they became lawmakers, the moon's craters which seem to be scars from earth, Shirin replied in the negative.

She also said the continuation of democracy and the constitution was ensured through the January 5 election.

“How would have we been able to win in the two prestigious international forums if the January 5 election had not taken place?” she said, adding that the international community would have raised many questions if the election had not been held.

The duo vowed to work towards resolving people's problems and develop living standards in the region as well as the world through CPA and IPU.