Dhaka – The visiting European Parliament (EP) delegation on Thursday laid emphasis on proper democratic process in forming a strong Election Commission in Bangladesh to hold the next election in a fully participatory manner.
“We hope it (EC formation) will be done in a proper democratic way,” Bernd Lange, Chair of the EU Committee on International Trade (INTA) who led the delegation, told a press conference at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh in Gulshan.The relegation members urged the government not to narrow down the fundamental citizen rights while ensuring security.
They also focused on ensuring proper balance between security and guarantee of freedom of expression.
The EP team praised the progress made by Bangladesh in attaining economic development and improvement in standards for the benefits of their workers.
The delegation of the EU’s International Trade Committee which came here on November 14 discussed also opportunities and challenges in EU-Bangladesh trade and investment relations.
EU head of the delegation in Dhaka Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon was also present at the press briefing.
The visit aimed at assessing the progress achieved in improving health and safety as well as labour rights in the export-driven sectors such as RMG.
The visit was an opportunity to launch a dialogue on the future of EU-Bangladesh trade relations once Bangladesh will evolve from a Least-Developed Country (LDC) to a developing country and a new arrangement for value-added trade relations needs to be agreed, the delegation chair told the reporters.
During the visit, the EP delegation met Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, PM’s political adviser HT Imam, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, State Minister for Labour and Employment M Majibul Haque and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The EP delegation also held meeting with BGMEA and leading Chambers of Commerce, Women Entrepreneurs, Trade Unions, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF, and civil society members.
Meanwhile, the EP delegation visited a number of factories in Tongi and Joydevpur of Gazipur.
Prime Minister’s Political Advisor HT Imam on Thursday said the next parliamentary election will be held in due time according to the constitution of Bangladesh and it would take place through a transparent process.
He made the remark when a delegation of the European Parliament met him at state guesthouse Padma.
HT Imam conveyed the government’s stance of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against terrorism that received the full and active support of the people of Bangladesh.
“There is no place for extremists and terrorists on this land,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
The fifteen-member delegation of EU Parliament was led by Chair of the International Trade Committee of EU Parliament Bernd Lange.
During the meeting ,HT Imam mentioned that “European Union is not only our trade partner but also an important development partner.”
He appraised the delegation about different initiatives undertaken by the government of Sheikh Hasina to curb extremism and terrorism and also the successes in these areas.
Dhaka – The visiting European Parliament (EP) delegation on Thursday laid emphasis on proper democratic process in forming a strong Election Commission in Bangladesh to hold the next election in a fully participatory manner.
“We hope it (EC formation) will be done in a proper democratic way,” Bernd Lange, Chair of the EU Committee on International Trade (INTA) who led the delegation, told a press conference at the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh in Gulshan.
The relegation members urged the government not to narrow down the fundamental citizen rights while ensuring security.
They also focused on ensuring proper balance between security and guarantee of freedom of expression.
The EP team praised the progress made by Bangladesh in attaining economic development and improvement in standards for the benefits of their workers.
The delegation of the EU’s International Trade Committee which came here on November 14 discussed also opportunities and challenges in EU-Bangladesh trade and investment relations.
EU head of the delegation in Dhaka Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon was also present at the press briefing.
The visit aimed at assessing the progress achieved in improving health and safety as well as labour rights in the export-driven sectors such as RMG.
The visit was an opportunity to launch a dialogue on the future of EU-Bangladesh trade relations once Bangladesh will evolve from a Least-Developed Country (LDC) to a developing country and a new arrangement for value-added trade relations needs to be agreed, the delegation chair told the reporters.
During the visit, the EP delegation met Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, PM’s political adviser HT Imam, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, State Minister for Labour and Employment M Majibul Haque and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The EP delegation also held meeting with BGMEA and leading Chambers of Commerce, Women Entrepreneurs, Trade Unions, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF, and civil society members.
Meanwhile, the EP delegation visited a number of factories in Tongi and Joydevpur of Gazipur.
Prime Minister’s Political Advisor HT Imam on Thursday said the next parliamentary election will be held in due time according to the constitution of Bangladesh and it would take place through a transparent process.
He made the remark when a delegation of the European Parliament met him at state guesthouse Padma.
HT Imam conveyed the government’s stance of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against terrorism that received the full and active support of the people of Bangladesh.
“There is no place for extremists and terrorists on this land,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
The fifteen-member delegation of EU Parliament was led by Chair of the International Trade Committee of EU Parliament Bernd Lange.
During the meeting ,HT Imam mentioned that “European Union is not only our trade partner but also an important development partner.”
He appraised the delegation about different initiatives undertaken by the government of Sheikh Hasina to curb extremism and terrorism and also the successes in these areas.
