Dhaka Bureau: Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr. Shireen Sharmin Chowdhury MP was met by Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the founder and current executive chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, at his office in Sangsad Bhawan on Saturday, March 4.
During the meeting, they discussed the UK’s contribution to the Great War of Independence, the development of democracy in Bangladesh, the ongoing development of Bangladesh, women’s empowerment, the steps taken by the Bangladesh government to build a better Bangladesh, etc.
The Speaker said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought for 23 long years to put smiles on the faces of the suffering people. The protest movement for the language started in 1948 and ended in 1971 with the achievement of great independence. The dark chapter of Bangladesh started with the assassination of the father of the nation in 1975. By adding the black law, the constitution written in exchange for the blood of 3 million martyrs in 1971 has been torn apart. Even after that, Bangabandhu’s daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, continues to work for the development of democracy with the attitude of a fellow traveler.
Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said that the great national parliament started its journey in 1973. This year, the Bangladesh National Parliament is going to celebrate its fifty-year anniversary. The 11th National Parliament, formed through participatory elections, has maintained the continuity of democratic practices. The relationship between the UK and Bangladesh is very strong. During this time, the speaker recalled that Tony Blair obtained a PhD degree from the University of Essex under the Commonwealth Scholarship when he was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Referring to Bangladesh as a true friend of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair said, the popular English artist of pop music organized the ‘Concert for Bangladesh’ on August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York during the Bangladesh War of Independence, which played a historic role in shaping world public opinion in the Great War of Independence. Bangladesh’s transition into a developing country, including the implementation of the Padma Bridge under the leadership of the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is highly commendable.
Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said that under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is working to build a developed Bangladesh by 2041, including 100% electrification of the country, economic and political empowerment of women, protection of public life through the implementation of a social safety net, climate change, and disaster management. Meanwhile, the Speaker sought greater cooperation from the United Kingdom in the ongoing development of Bangladesh.
Tony Blair expressed hope that the UK’s cooperation will continue in the overall development of Bangladesh. Senior officials of the Parliament Secretariat were present.
