Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, at the latter’s office in Parliament.

Milton Dick led a 13-member delegation during the meeting.

During the meeting, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said Bangladesh shares a historic relationship with Australia, recalling Australia’s support to Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War.

He said stronger parliamentary relations would not only enhance government-to-government ties but also boost people-to-people connections between the two countries.

The Speaker also said the current government has ushered in a new chapter in parliamentary democracy. “The active participation of the opposition party is further advancing parliamentary democracy by establishing a vibrant parliament,” he said.

Milton Dick, in his remarks, said Australia would continue to support strengthen parliamentary democracy.

Both sides stressed the need for strengthening the relations of the two parliaments, enhancing collaboration in the education sector, and promoting women’s empowerment in democratic processes.

Later, at the invitation of the Speaker, Milton Dick and his delegation observed the ongoing session of Bangladesh’s National Parliament in the afternoon.

The delegation included Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sharon Claydon MP, Labor Party member Basem Abdo, Senator Deborah O’Neill from New South Wales, Liberal Party Senator Andrew McLachlan from South Australia, Independent Senator Tammy Tyrrell from Tasmania and Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle.

Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal MP, and lawmakers Tahsina Rushdi MP and M Nasser Rahman MP also exchanged views with the visiting delegation on various bilateral issues.

Senior officials from the Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present during the meeting.