Diplomatic Desk:
On Monday (April 13, 2026), Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, posted in Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh National Parliament Barrister Kaiser Kamal MP at his office in Parliament Building.
During the meeting, the Deputy Speaker said that Bangladesh and India are close neighbors. Both countries can benefit diplomatically through the exchange of parliamentary information and experience. He mentioned that parliamentary activities will be more effective if the training and experience exchange activities of the National Parliament with the Lok Sabha of India are strengthened.
Regarding the bicameral legislature, he said that in 2013, Begum Khaleda Zia first raised the idea of establishing an upper house, which was later included in the 31 points of the BNP. Although the upper house is helpful in bringing balance to parliamentary activities, the issue deserves further discussion as its members are not directly elected by the people.
He also said that parliament is one of the main foundations of democracy. The government is working to implement the expectations of the people through parliamentary democracy. It is possible to ensure the accountability of the government by making the parliamentary standing committees effective.
Indian High Commissioner Prannoy Verma said that the Parliamentary Friendship Group can play an important role in improving relations between Bangladesh and India. The bilateral relations will be further strengthened through the launch of digital and paperless e-parliament, the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary activities, the importance, formation and activities of parliamentary standing committees, making the parliament more accountable, participating in training and evaluation of parliamentarians and mutual visits of parliamentary delegations.
During the meeting, both sides discussed various bilateral issues including maintaining good relations in border management, facilitating medical services and developing parliamentary democracy.
At that time, the High Commissioner congratulated him on being elected as the Deputy Speaker and presented him with a book and a memento on behalf of the Government of India.
Senior officials of the Indian High Commission and concerned officials including Barrister Md. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Secretary of the Bangladesh National Parliament Secretariat, were present during the meeting.
