Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Saturday urged both the ruling and opposition parties to play an active role in making parliament livelier.
“Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic and all powers belong to people. If we want to make parliament active and viable …both the ruling and the opposition parties have to play an effective role in parliament,” Dr Shirin stated while addressing a reception in the capital.
Bangladesh Law Association organised the reception, accorded to Dr Shirin Sharmin, the country’s first woman Speaker at Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Shirin Sharmin said: “Many people criticise me saying I’m an unelected Speaker. Referring to the constitution, she said: “I’m elected Member of Parliament from the seats reserved for women.”
She said many countries have woman Speakers. “But our country makes an example where the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition in parliament and the Speaker are women, which is rare in the world.”
Dr Sharmin said it is quite impossible to take the country towards progress and development, leaving out women who constitute half of the country’s total population.
Bangladesh Law Association President AKM Afzalul Rhaman chaired the function that was also addressed by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique.
