National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram on Wednesday held a courtesy meeting with Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Lulzim Plana at his office in the Parliament Complex, highlighting the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, trade and investment between the two countries.
During the meeting, the speaker said the people of Kosovo had made supreme sacrifices for their country's independence, adding that Bangladesh and Kosovo shared common bonds of independence and cultural heritage.
He also highlighted the close cultural ties between the two nations, said a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat this evening.
The speaker alleged that the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined over the past 17 years through farcical elections.
He said the Awami League government had established a reign of terror through enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial executions and vote rigging.
Referring to the UN fact-finding report, the Speaker said it had exposed the brutal and inhumane nature of the previous government's rule.
He said the July Mass Uprising of 2024 had ended Sheikh Hasina's autocratic rule and paved the way for Bangladesh's renewed democratic journey.
Major Hafiz described the 13th parliamentary election as one of the freest, fairest and most credible elections in the country's history. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to fulfill the aspirations of the people.
Kosovo Ambassador Lulzim Plana said a new democratic chapter had begun in Bangladesh, praising the active participation of lawmakers in parliamentary debates.
He noted that a large section of Bangladesh's population was young and economically active, saying they could make significant contributions to the national economy through quality education and information technology (IT) skills.
The ambassador expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for recognising Kosovo as an independent state and invited the Speaker to visit Kosovo.
Both sides emphasised the formation of a parliamentary caucus between the two countries, expansion of trade and investment, promotion of joint academic and research activities, and strengthening of exchanges in sports and culture.
Representatives of the Kosovo Embassy, the Parliament Secretariat secretary and other senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.