Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said he expects media coverage of parliamentary activities would enhance the legislature\u2019s dignity while the people awaited for long a vibrant Jatiya Sangsad like the current one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope Parliament will become more glorious and the people\u2019s trust in it will grow further through the media,\u201d he said joining as the chief gust a \u201cfruit festival\u201d staged by Parliament Journalists\u2019 Association (BPJA) at the reporters lounge at Jatiya Sangsad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahmed added: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The parliamentary speaker simultaneously expected the media role to strengthen public confidence in the institution saying \u201cI also hope that through your work Parliament will become more glorious and the people\u2019s trust in it will grow further\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahmed said since the Ershad regime he was elected as a lawmaker in several previous parliaments but \u201cI am even embarrassed to speak about some of those parliaments\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The speaker said that after years of what he described as ineffective legislatures, the country had finally obtained a \u201creal Parliament.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahmed said the election reflected people\u2019s desire for change as they \u201cwere not satisfied with the kind of Parliament we had seen in the past or with the activities of many MPs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey want a genuine Parliament. As elected representatives in this House, our responsibilities are now greater than ever. We must serve the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019 cooperation was essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must institutionalise democracy in its true sense. Everyone\u2019s cooperation is needed to ensure that Parliament can effectively work for the welfare of the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni said the fruit festival would further strengthen mutual goodwill, harmony and relations among all concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNecessary supports will continue for all your initiatives aimed at bringing Parliament closer to the people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BPJA President Harun Jamil chaired the event, while General Secretary Shawkat Ali Khan Litho conducted it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said he expects media coverage of parliamentary activities would enhance the legislature\u2019s dignity while the people awaited for long a vibrant Jatiya Sangsad like the current one. \u201cI hope Parliament will become more glorious and the people\u2019s trust in it will grow further through the media,\u201d he said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":35070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,93],"tags":[54],"class_list":["post-35069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-nationwide","tag-54"],"yoast_head":"\n