French delegation proposes parliamentary committee, seeks investment in oil, gas exploration
The Speaker also praised the significant role played by French citizen André Malraux during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation and paid tribute to his memory.
A French parliamentary delegation paid a courtesy call on Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad at his office today (15 September).
The delegation included French senators Pierre-Alain Roiron, Olivier Henno and Guillaume Chevrollier.
During the meeting, the Speaker said France has been a tested friend of Bangladesh since the War of Liberation.
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He said France is Bangladesh's second-largest trading destination in Europe and expressed hope that the bilateral relations will be further strengthened through the formation of a France-Bangladesh Parliamentary Caucus.
Hafiz Uddin said the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh had been undermined during the 15-year "authoritarian rule" of the Awami League.
Citing that people of Bangladesh are democracy-loving, he said they never surrendered themselves to autocratic rule and they upheld their respect for democracy.
The speaker also praised the significant role played by French citizen André Malraux during Bangladesh's War of Liberation and paid tribute to his memory.
During the meeting, the French delegation put emphasis on the expansion of parliamentary diplomacy through the formation of a France-Bangladesh parliamentary committee.
They also emphasised increasing French investment in exploration and drilling for oil and gas wells in Bangladesh's coastal areas.
The French parliamentary delegation, on behalf of the French Senate, invited the Speaker and a Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation to visit France.
