Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Monday said many problems can easily be resolved if the ruling party and the opposition reach a consensus on key issues in the greater interest of the country.

"To institutionalise democracy, Parliament must be strengthened. When the opposition and the ruling parties reach a consensus in Parliament, many problems are solved. The formation of a special committee on energy has solved the country's energy problems," he said.

The Chief Whip made the remarks when a delegation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh paid a courtesy call on him at his office, according to a press release.

He stressed the need for building mutual trust among all, saying without trust it will be difficult to take the country forward. “Democracy is essential for ensuring good governance,” he added.

Focusing on the current challenges, Moni said Bangladesh faces various environmental and economic problems. “The government has been providing financial support to reduce poverty through initiatives like Family Card and Farmers’ Card. The current government has also undertaken programmes like tree plantation and canal excavation to protect the environment,” he added.

During the meeting, different issues, including strengthening Parliament, e-governance, e-parliament, poverty alleviation, environmental development, freedom of speech, parliamentary sessions and rules of procedure, were discussed.

UNDP representatives present at the meeting included Assistant Resident Representative Anowarul Haq, Assistant Programme Adviser (Governance) Dragan Popovic and Project Manager Mahmudul Hasan.