Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2 September 2026
An IPU delegation, led by Secretary General Anda Filip, has concluded a visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the Jatiya Sangsad, the country’s Parliament.
The mission comes at a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, with parliamentary elections held on 12 February 2026, and an interim Government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus having been in office for 18 months following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
The objective of the mission was to identify avenues for possible future IPU technical support in the context of Bangladesh’s ongoing parliamentary reform process. Talks explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the IPU and the Jatiya Sangsad, while encouraging inclusive dialogue among the country’s political and institutional stakeholders.
The discussions focused on several priorities for parliamentary development, including greater youth participation in legislative processes, stronger support for women parliamentarians and improved administrative, technical and research services for lawmakers and parliamentary staff.
The delegation met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and the Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, as well as other parliamentary leaders, members of parliament, government ministers, representatives of the parliamentary opposition, and the media.
The visit forms part of the IPU’s wider work to provide practical assistance to parliaments, particularly in countries undergoing political transition or emerging from unrest or conflict. Through parliament-led support grounded in its core values, standards and guidelines, the IPU helps parliaments develop, reform and modernize, enabling them to fulfil their democratic mandate and better serve the people they represent.
