UNDP to support orientation programmes for MPs

UNDP is ready to support orientation programmes and training for newly elected members of parliament, with a focus on strengthening parliamentary committees and implementing gender equality policies.

UNDP Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stephen Rodriques made the remarks during a courtesy meeting with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal at the latter’s office on Wednesday (14 October).

During the meeting, Kayser Kamal said UNDP had been working closely with Bangladesh and playing an important role in providing training support to lawmakers.

He said the United Nations Development Programme had also been making positive contributions to democratic reforms in the country.

Referring to the UNDP resident representative’s visit to the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, the Deputy Speaker said the younger generation had brought an end to what he described as the previous government’s autocratic rule.

He said Generation Z had inspired movements against authoritarian rulers in several countries and that the combined resistance of young people, students and the wider public had ended autocratic rule in Bangladesh.

Kamal said the current government had been elected through the people’s voting rights and described its governance as liberal and democratic.

He said the government was committed to safeguarding democracy in the country.

Although Bangladesh achieved independence through the Liberation War in 1971, the country had yet to make a successful democratic transition, he said.

Kamal credited former President Ziaur Rahman with establishing multi-party democracy and said former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had advanced democracy after taking office in 1991.

He also highlighted Khaleda Zia’s contributions to the peaceful transfer of power and the introduction of the caretaker government system.

Stephen Rodriques said UNDP’s partnership with Bangladesh began in 1972 and that the organisation continued to work to strengthen global and regional cooperation.

He said UNDP was prepared to assist with orientation courses and training for first-time MPs, particularly to improve the functioning of parliamentary committees and support the implementation of gender equality policies.

During discussions with the delegation, the Deputy Speaker also stressed the need for bureaucratic reforms in the state administration.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative said recruitment should assess candidates’ ethical values alongside their professional competence.

He noted that around 325 training institutes operated across the country under the Ministry of Public Administration and stressed the need to reform their training methods to ensure practical, knowledge-based assessments.

Source: UNB