Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Anda Filip on Monday said parliaments have a crucial role to play in democracy, human rights, inclusive parliamentary systems and resolving differences through peaceful dialogue, expressing the IPU’s commitment to stand by Bangladesh in rebuilding its democracy. 

She made the remarks at an interaction with women and young members of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad at the Bangladesh Parliament.

Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaysar Kamal and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni also spoke at the interaction.

Speaking about challenges faced by women, Anda Filip said the IPU has developed some effective ways to address issues such as negative social norms, superstition and online hate targeting women.

She stressed solidarity among women in parliament and urged Bangladesh’s women MPs to engage with the IPU’s Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs and other programmes.

She also said parliament should be an inclusive space where the voices of different ethnic and social communities are heard.

Referring to young people’s experiences during the mass uprising, she said truth and justice are important, but reconciliation and unity are also essential.

In this regard, she referred to Nelson Mandela’s struggle and his experience of building a new “Rainbow Nation” in South Africa.

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said Bangladesh’s Parliament has 300 directly elected seats and 50 reserved seats for women.

He said around 40 women MPs joined the election held in February, six of whom were directly elected.

The Speaker said the IPU Secretary General and her delegation would be given the opportunity to visit relevant sites to see for themselves various allegations of human rights violations during the previous regime.

He said the IPU Secretary General and her delegation should be given the opportunity to directly observe the incidents and gather information from members of the diplomatic community and other neutral persons before making any immediate comments.

“After that, the issues can be discussed in detail,” he said.

The Speaker also referred to a UN investigative report on the previous government and requested the IPU Secretary General and her delegation to read it.

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni said Bangladesh needs support from the international community to rebuild democracy.

Saying that the people of Bangladesh have lost a lot, he said international support is important for establishing people’s rights and moving forward together as a nation.

He said the participation of young people has played an important role in Bangladesh’s democratic journey.

The people of Bangladesh have endured many hardships for a long time for democracy, and the participation of young people has played an important role in rebuilding democracy, he added.

At the interaction, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, Sayeed Al Noman, Tahsina Rushdie, Akhtar Hossain, Sansila Jabrin, Mansura Akter, Sanjida Yasmin, Madhabi Marma, Mardia Mumtaz and Nusrat Tabassum Jyoti raised issues of torture and repression during the “fascist” regime.

Parliament Secretariat Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sorwar Bhuiyan and and senior officials concerned of the Parliament Secretariat were also present. 

The IPU delegation is scheduled to leave Dhaka on September 2, wrapping up her four-day visit.