Democracy won through people’s sacrifice: JS Speaker
Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said Bangladesh’s people had never supported autocracy and had repeatedly sacrificed their lives for democracy and their rights.
He made the remarks on 31 August when a delegation led by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Anda Filip met him at his office.
The Speaker said Bangladeshis were democracy-loving people who had not hesitated to make supreme sacrifices during the 1971 Liberation War to restore democracy and establish their rights. “Although we achieved victory in the Liberation War, democracy was not established,” he said, adding that Bangladesh emerged as an independent country after a nine-month-long bloody war, but democracy remained elusive.
He said democracy was later introduced in Bangladesh under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, whom he described as the proclaimer of independence and one of the most popular presidents in the country’s history.
The Speaker also criticised the national elections held in 2008, 2014, 2018 and 2024, describing them as “farcical” and saying they undermined the democratic rights of the people.
He said the 2024 mass uprising, led by students and the people, brought an end to autocratic rule in the country, according to a press release from the Parliament Secretariat.
“The latest national parliamentary election was one of the freest, most competitive and fairest elections in the history of Bangladesh,” Hafiz Uddin Ahmad said.
He said the 13th JS was now discharging its responsibilities as a reflection of the democratic hopes and aspirations of the people.
IPU Secretary General Anda Filip said the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh had fulfilled the aspirations of its people.
She said democratic reforms and amendments would help fulfil the country’s responsibility to future generations.
According to her, establishing parliamentary democracy through public trust would make it possible to build a strong, effective and democratic parliament.
The meeting also covered Bangladesh’s effective role in UN bodies and the UN General Assembly, the settlement of the country’s maritime boundary case, and various aspects of parliamentary diplomacy.
The discussions came as Bangladesh’s parliament sought to strengthen international parliamentary engagement and cooperation.
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal, Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam, members of the IPU delegation, the Parliament Secretariat Secretary and senior officials concerned attended the meeting.
