Referring to the “untenable situation” arising from the Rohingya crisis, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday called for stronger global parliamentary advocacy to sustain international attention and ensure the early repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
She made the call when Secretary General of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Anda Filip met her at her office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The IPU Secretary General welcomed the initiatives undertaken by the present government to strengthen democratic institutions, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She reaffirmed her commitment to deepening cooperation between Bangladesh and the IPU through parliamentary exchanges, experience sharing and capacity building to further advance democratic practices.
The State Minister welcomed Filip and congratulated her on becoming the first woman Secretary General of the IPU in its 13-decade history.
She appreciated the IPU’s longstanding role in promoting parliamentary democracy, peace, human rights and inter-parliamentary cooperation.
The State Minister briefed her on the government’s efforts to restore democracy and democratic institutions, reaffirming its commitment to inclusive governance and accountability.
She also discussed the growing challenges of digital harassment, misinformation and disinformation, particularly against women and girls and called for stronger parliamentary cooperation to promote digital safety.