Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir BIkram on Wednesday said Bangladesh has finally got a “truly effective parliament” after 17 years, expressing hope that media coverage of parliamentary activities would further strengthen public confidence in the legislature.
“The people of Bangladesh had been waiting for such a parliament for a long time. We did not have this kind of effective parliament for 17 years,” he said while speaking as chief guest at the Bangladesh Parliament Journalists Association’s (BPJA) Fruit Festival 2026 at the National Parliament’s journalists’ lounge.
Reflecting on past legislatures, the speaker said he was elected to several parliaments but felt “ashamed” when recalling his experience as an MP during the rule of Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
“Many times, I saw on television and heard on the radio that one person had been elected from an area, but two days later I saw someone else. When I came to parliament, I found another person there. Many people became MPs through loopholes,” he said.
Hafiz Uddin said the country had now moved beyond what he described as “nonsensical parliaments” and secured a genuinely representative legislature.
“I saw a good parliament in 1991, and now this one. This time a highly free and fair election was held. Many people were elected on their own merit despite having little political recognition,” he said.
The speaker said voting patterns indicated that people wanted change and were dissatisfied with the performance of previous parliaments and lawmakers.
“People want a genuine Parliament. As elected members of this Parliament, our responsibility is much greater than before. We have to serve the people,” he added.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Qaiser Kamal said parliament must be established as the centre of national affairs and called for the cooperation of parliamentary reporters in strengthening democratic institutions.
“The country’s democracy must be institutionalized in the true sense. Everyone’s cooperation is needed so that Parliament can work for the welfare of the people,” he said.
He added that such events help foster closer ties between journalists and lawmakers and that journalists could play an important role in further institutionalizing democracy.
Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni said the fruit festival would help strengthen goodwill, harmony and mutual understanding among participants.
He also expressed hope that journalists would continue to play a stronger role in bringing Parliament closer to the people.
The event was attended by ruling party whips GK Gous, Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Akhteruzzaman Mia and ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nijan); opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam; BNP MP Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik; Jamaat MP Barrister Mohammad Najibur Rahman; and other lawmakers, parliamentary officials and journalists.
BPJA President Harun Jamil chaired the program, while General Secretary Shawkat Ali Khan Litho moderated it.