Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and her British counterpart Sir Lindsay Hoyle agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration between Bangladesh and the British parliaments specially on climate change, women empowerment, justice for the Rohingyas, and role of parliament across the Commonwealth.

They reached the agreement during a bilateral meeting at the Westminster ‘Speakers House’ held on Monday, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury proposed to form a ‘Bangladesh-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group’, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries to work together for promoting shared values of democracy, peace, and progress.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the British Parliament since 2019, congratulated Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the climate leadership at the CoP26 and being among the strongest voices to combat global warming and climate change.

The British Speaker also expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for sheltering and protecting 1.1 million Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar. The Bangladesh Speaker called on the British Parliament to play a leading role in resolving the Rohingya crisis towards a sustained return.

Sir Hoyle recalled Bangladesh Speaker’s successful tenure as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and praised her skillful leadership to promote women empowerment across the CPA.