President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday urged British lawmakers to play a role in strengthening parliamentary cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
He made the call when a delegation of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh met him at Bangabhaban.
The delegation was led by Apsana Begum, chair of the APPG and a British MP of Bangladeshi origin. Shockat Adam, MP, and Lord Qurban Hussain of the House of Lords were also present.
President's Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed reporters after the meeting.
The President said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its long-standing relations with the UK, describing the country as an important economic and development partner and one of Bangladesh’s largest export markets.
Appreciating the UK’s democratic traditions and governance practices, he stressed the need to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation through reciprocal visits, exchanges between parliamentary committees and training programmes for officials.
Mirza Fakhrul also expressed hope that, at the initiative of the APPG, a Bangladesh-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group will be formed in the Jatiya Sangsad.
At the beginning of the meeting, Apsana Begum congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his election as President.
She also praised him for successfully continuing the struggle for the restoration of democracy despite enduring immense repression and persecution over a long period.
Welcoming the delegation, President Alamgir said the contributions of members of the British Parliament’s APPG to Bangladesh’s democratic restoration will be remembered by the people of Bangladesh.
The delegation congratulated Bangladesh on holding a free and fair national election.
In response, the President said the 2026 parliamentary election was accepted as free and fair both at home and abroad.
He further said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is working to strengthen various institutions in Bangladesh drawing on the experience of British institutions.
Mirza Fakhrul added that the British Parliament is regarded as a model for Bangladesh’s Parliament.
The President’s military secretary, secretary and press secretary were also present at the meeting.