Desk Report:
The 1st meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 13th Parliament was held under the chairmanship of the committee chairman, Zaharat Adib Chowdhury.
The meeting was attended by committee members and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam, Md. Amanullah Aman, Humam Quader Chowdhury, SK Azizul Bari, Sayeed Al Noman, ABM Mosharraf Hossain, Sanjida Islam, Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Atiqur Rahman Mojahid. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman attended the meeting as a special invitee at the invitation of the committee chairman. Although the newly appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Humayun Kabir, was invited to the meeting, he could not attend the meeting as he was on a pre-scheduled foreign tour.
The meeting began with recitation of the Holy Quran and an introduction session with the committee chairperson, members and senior officials concerned.
The committee was briefed on the organizational structure, scope and ongoing activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition to reviewing the activities and achievements of the last six months, the work plan for the next 180 days was presented. During this time, the committee members provided various opinions and suggestions to make the activities of the ministry more effective, integrated and fruitful.
The meeting decided to discuss in detail in the next meeting what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could do to prevent illegal immigration in various countries of the world, including the United Arab Emirates. The meeting termed Bangladesh’s achievements and active participation in various foreign-related activities, including the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Malaysia and China, as an expression of international trust in the government.
In the meeting, the committee unanimously decided to accept a resolution thanking and congratulating Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman for being elected as the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The committee proposed to launch “education diplomacy” services in foreign missions and to launch a special emergency hotline for women workers, and the Foreign Minister and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs agreed to this.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Parliament Secretariat.
