Dhaka:Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikrom, emphasized the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh through the 13th parliamentary election, which he described as one of the freest, fairest, and most credible elections in the nation's history.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Bangladesh-European Union, European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), and Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN) at his office at the JS Bhaban. He stated that true development in a country is not possible without democracy.
The Speaker also mentioned that election observation teams from the European Union and various other countries highly praised the election for its fairness. He accused the previous Awami League government of undermining democracy through acts of injustice, oppression, repression, and extrajudicial killings over a span of 17 years. He noted that the mass uprising in July 2024 had once again opened the path for democratic restoration in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, discussions were held on ensuring voting rights for persons with disabilities, increasing their participation in the electoral process, and enhancing their political representation. The delegation also conveyed the importance of including persons with disabilities in the activities of the Constitution Amendment Committee and highlighted the need for facilities to aid persons with hearing disabilities in understanding parliamentary debates.
The European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and B-SCAN are collaborating to ensure the electoral participation of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. Representatives from the Bangladesh-European Union and officials from the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.