Dhaka: Speakers at an inception workshop on the e-Parliament Feasibility Study highlighted the need for digital transformation to foster a more inclusive, transparent, and citizen-responsive Parliament in Bangladesh. The workshop was a joint effort by the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat (BPS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Embassy of Switzerland.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this initiative is part of UNDP’s Strengthening Institutions, Policies, and Services (SIPS) project and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 5: Gender Equality. Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, spoke at the event as the chief guest, emphasizing the importance of transparency, participation, and accountability in Parliament. He noted that the e-Parliament initiative presents a historic opportunity to rebuild public trust and restore parliamentary oversight, while also calling for free, fair, and inclusive elections.
Stefan Liller, UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh, underscored the potential benefits of technology in expanding access, reducing time and cost, and enabling real-time policy analysis. He affirmed UNDP’s commitment to partnering with the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat in strengthening democratic governance.
Corinne H Pignani, Charge d’ affaires a.i. of the Embassy of Switzerland, participated as a special guest, highlighting the importance of citizen-centric management of parliamentary affairs. Md. Mizanur Rahman ndc, Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, delivered the welcome remarks, with other notable speakers including A K M Benjamin Riazi, Additional Secretary, BPS, and Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh.
Virtual presentations were given by Agata Walczak, a Democratic Institutions and Processes Specialist at the UNDP, and Avinash Bikha, a Parliamentary Digital Transformation Specialist at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). They shared global best practices from countries such as Armenia, Bhutan, and Serbia, illustrating the impact of digital tools on parliamentary transparency and public engagement.
The event gathered over 80 participants, including officials from all wings of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat, representatives from relevant government departments, development partners, and UNDP experts. Through collaborative group work and stakeholder dialogue, the workshop aimed to identify the specific e-service needs of Members of Parliament and Secretariat staff, assess existing ICT infrastructure and capacity, and outline a roadmap for establishing a comprehensive e-Parliament system.