Country gets truly functional parliament after 17 years: Speaker

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Wednesday said Bangladesh has finally regained a truly functional parliament after 17 years, expressing hope that responsible media coverage would further strengthen public confidence in the legislature.

He made the remarks while addressing the “Fruit Festival-2026” organised by the Bangladesh Parliament Journalists Association (BPJA) at the Parliament Journalists' Lounge in the Jatiya Sangsad complex.

Reflecting on his past experience as a lawmaker, Hafiz Uddin said he had served in several parliaments, including during the regime of former president Hussein Muhammad Ershad.

“I feel embarrassed when I recall some of those experiences. At times, I saw on television or heard on the radio that one person had been elected from a constituency, but a few days later another person appeared as the elected representative. Many people became MPs through irregular means,” he said.

The Speaker said the current parliament represents a significant departure from previous legislatures and compared it favourably to the parliament formed after the 1991 election.

He said voting patterns indicated that people wanted change and a more accountable parliament. According to him, public dissatisfaction with the conduct of previous parliaments and lawmakers had increased demand for a legislature that genuinely represents citizens.

“As elected representatives, our responsibility is now greater than ever. We must work for the people and serve them sincerely,” he said.

TZ