Door to talks still open for the opposition, Chief Whip tells EU ambassador

Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni has said the door to discussion is still open for the opposition. He said the opposition should abandon the path of street agitation and come to parliament to speak.

He made the remarks on Monday (2 November) during a courtesy call by European Union (EU) Ambassador Michael Miller at his office in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

The Chief Whip said parliamentary democratic practice has returned to Bangladesh after a long time. The current government is fully committed to implementing the July National Charter.

Towards that goal, he said, a series of meetings has already been held with various political parties, constitutional experts, teachers, journalists, July fighters and representatives of all classes and professions of society.

Noting that the opposition has also been repeatedly invited to join the relevant committee, he said the door to discussion remains open for them.

The Chief Whip added that the opposition can give up street agitation and present its constructive views in parliament, because the Jatiya Sangsad is the centre of the democratic system. Any political difference can only be resolved through parliamentary discussion, and through that the country's democratic process can be made stronger and more solid.

The bilateral meeting highlighted the importance of forming a 'Bangladesh-EU Parliamentary Friendship Group' to exchange experience among members of parliament and to make parliamentary activities more dynamic and richer.

There was also positive discussion on mutual cooperation to modernise parliamentary budget management and to increase the institutional capacity of the country's various democratic institutions.

Investment from various European countries in Bangladesh, expansion of bilateral trade and holding an international investment forum also featured prominently in the discussion.

At the time, the Chief Whip presented the Bangladesh government's firm position on amending labour law, protecting workers' overall rights, ensuring an effective role for trade unions and maintaining sustainable stability in the industrial sector.

Both sides also discussed strengthening public trust by ensuring democratic continuity, administrative transparency and accountability in the country, and continuing economic development and infrastructural progress.

EU Ambassador Michael Miller praised the effective role of the Jatiya Sangsad in the context of the successful return of the democratic system to Bangladesh after a long time.

At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed optimism that cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union in areas of longstanding friendly relations, shared democratic values and strategic interests would be strengthened many times over in the future.