Bangladesh to miss Commonwealth Speakers Conference in Delhi
Pakistan is also unlikely to send a delegate, Indian officials say
Bangladesh will not be attending the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Commonwealth countries (CSPOC), scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 14 to 16 January.
India's Parliament Speaker Om Birla told reporters that Bangladesh will not be represented as its parliament is currently dissolved.
Pakistan is also unlikely to send a delegate, Indian officials said.
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The conference, set to be inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 January, is expected to see participation from 42 of the Commonwealth's 56 member states, which comprise mostly former British colonies, including Australia and Canada.
According to Birla, this year's gathering will mark the highest level of participation in the history of the conference.
Discussions will focus on shared parliamentary values, democratic governance, and institutional cooperation among Commonwealth nations.
Birla also highlighted that preparations for the conference have been conducted entirely online, with no paper used, and a dedicated app has been developed to coordinate logistics and disseminate information.
