Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said he expects media coverage of parliamentary activities would enhance the legislature’s dignity while the people awaited for long a vibrant Jatiya Sangsad like the current one.

   “I hope Parliament will become more glorious and the people’s trust in it will grow further through the media,” he said joining as the chief gust a “fruit festival” staged by Parliament Journalists’ Association (BPJA) at the reporters lounge at Jatiya Sangsad.

   Ahmed added: “The people of Bangladesh had long awaited a Parliament like the present one. For the last 17 years, we did not have an effective Parliament of this kind.”

   The parliamentary speaker simultaneously expected the media role to strengthen public confidence in the institution saying “I also hope that through your work Parliament will become more glorious and the people’s trust in it will grow further”.

   Ahmed said since the Ershad regime he was elected as a lawmaker in several previous parliaments but “I am even embarrassed to speak about some of those parliaments”.

   “At times I saw on television or heard on the radio that someone had been elected from a constituency, but two days later another person appeared in the house (from the constituency). Many people became parliament members through various irregularities,” he said.

   The speaker said that after years of what he described as ineffective legislatures, the country had finally obtained a “real Parliament.”

   “We witnessed a good Parliament in 1991 and now again. The latest election was highly free and fair. Many candidates were elected on their own merit despite having little political prominence,” he said.

   Ahmed said the election reflected people’s desire for change as they “were not satisfied with the kind of Parliament we had seen in the past or with the activities of many MPs”.

   “They want a genuine Parliament. As elected representatives in this House, our responsibilities are now greater than ever. We must serve the people,” he said.

   Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal also joined the event and said Parliament must be established as the central institution of the country for which parliamentary journalists’ cooperation was essential.

   “We must institutionalise democracy in its true sense. Everyone’s cooperation is needed to ensure that Parliament can effectively work for the welfare of the people,” he said.

   Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni said the fruit festival would further strengthen mutual goodwill, harmony and relations among all concerned.

   “Necessary supports will continue for all your initiatives aimed at bringing Parliament closer to the people,” he said.

   Whips GK Gaush, Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Akhtaruzzaman Mia and ABM Ashraf Uddin (Nizan), Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, BNP lawmaker Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Jamaat-e-Islami lawmakers Barrister Mohammad Najibur Rahman, Rashedul Islam Rashed and Salah Uddin, Jatiya Sangsad Secretary Barrister Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed and a large number of MPs, journalists and parliamentary officials attended the programme.

   BPJA President Harun Jamil chaired the event, while General Secretary Shawkat Ali Khan Litho conducted it.