Outgoing UNFPA country representative in Bangladesh Asa Torkelsson on Wednesday called on Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at her office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

During the meeting, they discussed the ongoing activities under the Strengthening Parliament’s Capacity in Integrated Pollution Issues into Development (SPCPD) Project and the overall development of Bangladesh.

Shirin said different pro-people activities are now being implemented at the grassroots levels through the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad under the SPCPD project. She thanked the UNFPA country representative for extending her sincere cooperation over the activities.

Asa Torkelsson said her experiences acquired from the SPCPD project would enrich her further, said a Parliament press release.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been working with the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat since 2003 focusing to enhance the capacity of Parliamentarians and Parliament Secretariat officials to integrate population and gender concerns, including emerging issues, into national and sectoral plans, policies, and laws.

Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, in cooperation with UNFPA, has designed the SPCPD project with a view to integrating critical population and development issues including those related to reproductive health, reproductive rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, by providing capacity building support to Parliamentarians as public leaders responsible for promoting the welfare of their constituents and creating an enabling environment for the nation’s sustainable development.