National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram on Wednesday held a courtesy meeting with Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Lulzim Plana at his office in the Parliament Complex, highlighting the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, trade and investment between the two countries.
During the meeting, the speaker said the people of Kosovo had made supreme sacrifices for their country's independence, adding that Bangladesh and Kosovo shared common bonds of independence and cultural heritage. He also highlighted the close cultural ties between the two nations, according to a press release issued by the Parliament Secretariat.
The speaker stated that the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined over the past 17 years through farcical elections, alleging that the previous administration established a reign of terror marked by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions. Referring to a UN fact-finding report, he noted it exposed the brutal nature of past governance before the July Mass Uprising of 2024 ended autocratic rule.
Major Hafiz described a recent parliamentary election as one of the freest and most credible in the country's history, noting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to fulfill public aspirations. Kosovo Ambassador Lulzim Plana praised the active participation of lawmakers in parliamentary debates and noted that Bangladesh's young population could contribute significantly to the economy through education and IT skills.
The ambassador expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for recognising Kosovo as an independent state and invited the Speaker to visit Kosovo. Both sides emphasised the formation of a parliamentary caucus, expansion of trade and investment, promotion of joint research activities, and strengthening of cultural exchanges. Representatives of the Kosovo Embassy and Parliament Secretariat were present.
Why it matters
The meeting establishes a formal framework for parliamentary cooperation, trade expansion, and economic investment between Bangladesh and Kosovo.