63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference starts in Dhaka on Nov 1

The 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference or CPC will be held in Dhaka on Nov 1-8, according to Bangladesh office of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association or CPA.

This year’s theme for CPC is ‘Continuing to enhance the high standards of performance of parliamentarians.’

CPC, which is one of the largest annual gatherings of the commonwealth parliamentarians, will see the participation of around 550 foreign delegates including speakers, deputy speakers, and MPs of 180 national and state parliaments of 52 countries.

The delegates are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday, CPA has said in a statement.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the vice patron of the conference, will inaugurate the conference on Nov 5 at the South Plaza of the Parliament.

The inauguration will be followed by general meetings, group meetings and eight workshops at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Areas around Parliament will be under constant monitoring of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from Nov 1 to 8. DMP has restricted use of any explosives, weapons, toxins in the areas during the period.

No rallies or meetings can be held during these seven days. The areas include Chandrima Udyan, National Parliament, BICC and adjacent areas, as per a statement of the DMP.

It will be a critical year for the CPA as members will elect their new chairperson for a three-year term. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury currently holds the position.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will brief the participants over ongoing Rohingya crisis on Nov 5.

Bangladesh has designed a workshop titled ‘Democracy Must Deliver: Role of Parliament Addressing the Challenges’ to hold during the conference.

“We will discuss the challenges that MPs face when serving the people as their representatives,” Speaker Chaudhury said.

“Separate workshop will be held on SDG (sustainable development goal)

“Climate change, economic integration, poverty alleviation, fortifying democracy and other problems that we regularly deal with will be discussed,” she added.

The 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference was moved away from Dhaka amid security concerns following the Gulshan café attack last year.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was formed in 1911. Bangladesh received its membership in 1973.

Africa, Asia, Australia, British Island and Mediterranean, Canada, Caribbean Americas and Atlantic, India, Pacific and Southeast Asia make up the CPA.