Dhaka:Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has extended an invitation to Norwegian companies to engage in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, including Bhola. This invitation was made during a courtesy call by Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad criticized the past 17 years under an autocratic regime, highlighting issues such as 'farcical elections' under the Awami League government, which he claimed have confined parliamentary democracy. He alleged that the government had fostered a climate of fear through enforced disappearances, killings, and extrajudicial actions. The Speaker also mentioned the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and opposition leaders during this period.
The Speaker noted that the mass uprising in July 2024 marked the end of authoritarian rule, initiating a new democratic chapter for the country. He described the 13th parliamentary election as one of the most credible in Bangladesh's history, stating that the current government is working towards fulfilling the democratic aspirations of its people. He also emphasized Bangladesh's leading role in global human rights protection and the need for international collaboration in repatriating Rohingyas to Myanmar, suggesting that Norway and other European countries could assist in this effort.
Hafiz Uddin highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between Norway and Bangladesh, dating back to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971, and acknowledged Norway's support for promoting parliamentary democracy in the country.
Norwegian Ambassador Gulbrandsen commended Bangladesh's participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions and its contribution to global peace through peacekeeper deployments. He affirmed Norway's readiness to support the expansion of parliamentary democracy and human rights protection in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, discussions included forming a parliamentary friendship group between the two nations, exchanging parliamentary delegation visits, and the Nobel Peace Prize's role in acknowledging contributions to global peace. The ongoing activities of the Constitution Amendment Committee and the July National Charter were also topics of discussion. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Norwegian Embassy and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat secretary, among others.