Dhaka: Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Sunday asserted that democracy was endangered in Bangladesh during the 16-year rule of Sheikh Hasina. ‘Democracy was at stake in Bangladesh during the 16 years under Sheikh Hasina’s rule. A reign of fear was established through repression of opposition parties and extrajudicial killings,’ he stated.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Speaker made these remarks when Ambassador of Algeria to Bangladesh Abdelouahab Saidani paid a courtesy call on him at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, as noted in a press release. During the meeting, the Speaker reminisced about the sacrifice of late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in the arduous process of restoring democracy. ‘The people of Bangladesh have regained their democratic rights through the exercise of their franchise in the recently held national election,’ he added.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmad highlighted the potential for future joint progress between Bangladesh and Algeria, emphasizing that the bilateral relationship could be strengthened through strong people-to-people contact and cultural exchange. He further noted that Algeria’s support for Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly has bolstered the friendly relations between the two nations.
The Algerian Ambassador expressed that both the government and people of Algeria highly appreciated the recently held free and fair parliamentary election in Bangladesh. During the course of the meeting, both sides exchanged views on cooperation in various sectors, including sports, technical assistance, shipbuilding, garment exports, education, and energy.
The Speaker underscored the importance of forming a parliamentary friendship group with Algeria, enhancing diplomatic ties, and increasing exchange visits between parliamentary delegations to foster stronger bilateral relations.