To confirm her win, the government has engaged the Foreign Ministry to lobby for Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the first speaker from Bangladesh to contest for the post of chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s executive committee.
It is considered as a prestigious platform dedicated to promoting democracy and development.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, proposer of Shirin Sharmin for the post, has also instructed the Foreign Ministry for gearing up lobby with the CPA member states. Apart from the national legislatures, the state assemblies are also members of the CPA.
Foreign Ministry sources say Australia, Canada, Singapore and other influential countries have committed to extending support for Shirin Sharmin who completed her PhD from the UK’s University of Essex.
The CPA election is set to take place on October 9 in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde which will host the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. The general assembly of the conference will elect a chairperson for four years.
Only two candidates – Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly – will vie for the post this year. Juliana is the speaker of the legislative assembly of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean. The population of the Cayman Islands is over 56,000.
On August 10, the CPA headquarters declared the two candidates valid.
Her win would brighten the image of Bangladesh that has been facing criticism at home and abroad for the January 5 election boycotted by the main opposition parties. The opposition criticises the 10th parliament for having an opposition which is also part of the government. “I have decided to contest. We the only two candidates have been in the race,” Shirin Sharmin told the Dhaka Tribune.
Before the election, she is scheduled to fly to London on a seven-day visit for holding talks with the British parliament leaders and other stakeholders. She is likely to meet Lord Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness D’Souza. Support of the UK is very important for the CPA elections.
Foreign Ministry and parliament sources say Britain favours Shirin Sharmin’s candidature for her outstanding academic career coupled with a clean image as a new generation of leaders.
