WHO IS BEING WITH WHOM! Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury became the first Bangladeshi to be elected as chairperson of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association today defeating her lone competitor Juliana O’Connor-Connoly, speaker of legislative assembly of Cayman Islands by three votes. The Cayman Islands (/ˈkeɪmən/ or /keɪˈmæn/) are a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea which was remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century, listed by the UN Special Committee of 24 as one of the last non-self-governing territories. The defence of the Cayman Islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A 20-seat Legislative Assembly is elected by the people every four years to handle domestic affairs. Of the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), seven are chosen to serve as government ministers in a Cabinet headed by the Governor. The Premier is appointed by the Governor. But Governor is appointed by the Queen of the United Kingdom on the advice of the British Government to represent the monarch. According to the Cayman Islands 2010 census the estimated resident population is 54,878 people. Bangladeshs parliament speaker engaged in a battle for the position of Commonwealth parliamentary Association (CPA) with a non- sovereign territory’s parliaments speaker. A total of 321 voters from parliaments in 53 countries across the globe participated in the election that took place in the capital of Cameroon--Yaounde. Dr.Sharmin defeated her lone competitor Juliana O’Connor-Connoly, speaker of legislative assembly of Cayman Islands (20-seat Legislative Assembly) by three votes only! We understand, Bangladeshs parliament, where the over half of the 300 members of parliament were elected unopposed, and most of the rest faced only token opposition. The election did not credibly express the will of the Bangladeshi people. In the absence of free and fair election, Parliament cannot have real legitimacy and cannot be said to be sovereign as well, and in such a parliament people will have no representation. It is not difficult to guess why a sovereign parliament of any commonwealth country did not show their interest to compete with Bangladesh. Otherwise, it would have been joyful news for whole nation when Dr.Shirin elected Commonwealth Parliamentary Association chairperson. Alas, Who is being with Whom!
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:00:32 +0000