Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad returned home on Sunday after attending the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Arusha, Tanzania, where Bangladesh secured two key positions in the international parliamentary body.
Hafiz Uddin formally assumed the chairmanship of the IPU Asia-Pacific Geopolitical Group (APG) on October 5, taking over from Bhutanese Speaker Tempa Dorji.
On the same day, Barrister Jahrat Adib Chowdhury, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was elected as a member of the IPU Executive Committee representing the Asia-Pacific Group at the 153rd IPU Assembly.
The appointments have strengthened Bangladesh’s representation in international parliamentary diplomacy, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat.
The Asia-Pacific Group comprises 37 member countries. Bangladesh’s leadership of the group is expected to strengthen its role and representation in international parliamentary affairs.
The Speaker led a Bangladesh parliamentary delegation, which also included seven other BNP lawmakers, two Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers and the Parliament Secretariat secretary, to the IPU Assembly.
Upon their return, the delegation was received at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by officials from the Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.