British MPs laud Bangladesh's development efforts
Dhaka: Some 60 members of the British Parliament have lauded Bangladesh's ongoing development efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
They, at an event in the Palace of Westminster's Terrace Pavilion on Monday, said Bangladesh has made significant progress and they would stand by this South Asian country in its efforts to better the lives of its people.
The MPs said it was a historic and first-ever such large gathering of British lawmakers in an event like the one hosted by UK Awami League, the ruling party of Bangladesh, said a press release on Tuesday.
President and general secretary of UK Awami League Sultan Mahmud Shariff and Syed Shazidur Rahman Faruk respectively organised the event marking 47th Independence and National Day.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam,, who was the chief guest on the occasion, thanked the British lawmakers for joining the celebration by UK Awami League.
“We need the continued support and assistance of the UK government and the private bodies in our journey in fulfilling the goals to turn Bangladesh as Sonar Bangla, the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he said.
Among others three Bangladeshi-British MPs - Tulip Siddiq, Rupa Huq and Rushna Ali - along with some 60 lawmakers from the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party briefly spoke on the occasion.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Britain M. Nazmul Quaunine also spoke.
Shahriar Alam and the MPs condemned terrorist acts across the globe, especially those that took place in Britain and Bangladesh.
Tulip Siddiq, an MP from the Labour Party, said everyone should be alert against acts of terrorism.
“Terrorists do not represent Islam or Muslims, but resort to violence to fulfill their own needs.”
“I have never seen so many MPs together in any event,” she added excitingly as Bangabandhu's grand-daughter was cheered by the guests.