A British parliamentary delegation has discussed issues ranging from gender-based violence and land rights to visa services and international flight connectivity during its visit to Sylhet, as part of a week-long trip to Bangladesh.
The delegation from the British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) held the engagements in Sylhet from October 9 to 11, focusing on education, employment, infrastructure, land disputes, and visa and consular services.
Before arriving in Sylhet on Friday, October 9, the delegation held high-level meetings with officials and representatives of Bangladesh’s government, Parliament and civil society in Dhaka, and with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Cox’s Bazar.
Upon arrival, the delegation met representatives of BRAC, visited Sylhet Kidney Foundation Hospital and held roundtable discussions at the BRAC Learning Centre.
Participants in the roundtable included Sylhet Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, Sylhet Women Chamber of Commerce President Lubana Yesmin Shampa, District Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun and Sylhet Press Club President Moktabis Nur.
On October 10, the delegation participated in roundtable consultations organized by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST). Members met representatives of the Sylhet Bar Association, legal experts and tea garden workers.
Discussions focused on violence against women and girls and legal redress, labor rights and working conditions, minority group advocacy and community action.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Urang (Oraon) community with BRAC to learn more about issues affecting Indigenous and minority Hindu communities in the region.
The delegation also met participants in BRAC’s Ultra Poor Graduation Program to learn about development initiatives in Sylhet.
On October 11, the delegation visited BLAST’s Sylhet unit and met judicial officials, lawyers and paralegals. Discussions covered legal aid and access to advocacy and advice.
The delegation’s visit was supported by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK).