Bangladesh and Kosovo Share Strong Ties of Freedom and Culture: Speaker

Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram has said that Bangladesh and Kosovo share common bonds of freedom and culture.

He said the people of Kosovo had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country’s independence and that the two nations shared close cultural ties.

The Speaker made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Lulzim Pllana at his office on Wednesday (November 4).

The Speaker said the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined over the past 17 years through farcical elections held in the name of democracy. He alleged that the Awami League government had established a reign of terror through enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial executions and vote rigging.

He added that the United Nations Fact-Finding Report had revealed the brutality and atrocities committed during the previous government’s rule.

He said Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule came to an end through the mass uprising of July 2024, paving the way for Bangladesh to resume its democratic journey.

The Speaker also said the people of Bangladesh were deeply committed to democracy. He described the 13th parliamentary election as one of the freest, most acceptable and fairest elections in the country’s history.

He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

Kosovo Ambassador Lulzim Pllana said a new democratic chapter had begun in Bangladesh. He praised the active participation of members of the current parliament in parliamentary debates.

He noted that a large proportion of Bangladesh’s population consisted of young and working-age people who could contribute to the national economy through quality education and knowledge of information technology.

The ambassador also expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for recognising Kosovo as an independent state and invited the Speaker to visit Kosovo.

During the meeting, both sides emphasised the importance of forming parliamentary caucus groups between the two countries, expanding trade and investment, undertaking joint academic and research activities, and promoting exchanges in sports and culture.

Representatives of the Kosovo Embassy, the Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat and other senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.