Desk Report:
Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, MP, stated that beyond the task of enacting laws, Members of Parliament (MPs) hold other vital responsibilities. Ensuring transparency and accountability in government development projects is a key duty of lawmakers. He emphasized that a strong and effective parliament serves as the heart of democracy.
He made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at an orientation program titled “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Public Resource Management.” The program was held on Sunday (November 15, 2026) in the Oath Room of the National Parliament and was organized under the UNDP-implemented project, “Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS).”
The event was presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP, with the welcome address delivered by the Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat, Barrister Md. Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan. The Chief Whip of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Nurul Islam Moni, MP, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Steven Rodriguez, spoke as special guests.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, MP, noted that as the scope of government development projects has expanded, so too have the technical and other complexities involved in their implementation. As public representatives, it is the duty of MPs to ensure the proper utilization of public resources by maintaining transparency throughout the government procurement process. He expressed confidence that the knowledge gained from this orientation workshop would play an effective role in establishing good governance.
The Speaker stated that the current parliament is working to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of the people. He remarked that the democratic rights of the citizens had been undermined over the past 15 years through farcical elections. The public now looks toward the current, elected parliament to help build a prosperous Bangladesh. He further acknowledged the significant role played by the UNDP in supporting the government’s development projects.
Deputy Speaker of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, MP, recalled that in the 2014 national parliamentary election, 153 individuals became Members of Parliament without being elected. In the parliament elected after 11 years, the accountability and responsibility of public representatives have increased. He stated that just as we were able to oust fascism, we will similarly be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chief Whip of the Bangladesh National Parliament, Nurul Islam Moni, remarked that for national development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is not enough to merely monitor budget allocations and government expenditure; one must also ensure that the benefits of the allocated funds actually reach the intended recipients. In this regard, he emphasized the critical importance of parliamentary oversight, transparency, and accountability.
He noted that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, has undertaken various programs—such as the issuance of ‘family cards,’ the waiver of interest on agricultural loans, and the introduction of ‘farmer cards’—aimed at poverty alleviation and improving the living standards of the general public. The primary objective of these initiatives is to enhance the socio-economic conditions of marginalized populations and contribute effectively toward achieving the SDGs.
On this occasion, the Speaker expressed gratitude to the UNDP for its continuous support for the parliament’s development projects and formally inaugurated the workshop.
The event was attended by the Chief Whip of the National Parliament, Members of Parliament, representatives from the UNDP, the project director, and relevant officials from the National Parliament Secretariat.
