DHAKA: Representatives of the Inter-Parliamentary Union lauded the Bangladesh’s progress in reducing the risks of climate change and facing natural disasters.

IPU representatives made the appraisal at a discussion titled “The Role of Parliaments, Cities and Local Authorities in the Implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda” at the UN Headquarters on Wednesday.

IPU president Saber Hossain Chowdhury, also a lawmaker of ruling Awami League, moderated the panel discussion.

Members of parliament of different countries exchanged views on the issues of lawmakers’ monitoring strategies to ensure transparency in expenditure and progress on implementation of development agenda.

The president, in his address, said that lawmakers’ involvement in monitoring the development agenda will speed-up the progress of people.

He also urged the member states to formulate effective strategies in this regards.

United Nations organized the discussion as part of its two-day General Assembly high-level thematic debate on “Means of Implementation for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda”.

Addressing the discussion, Saber Hossain Chowdhury also said the upcoming UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will set the tone for FfD 3, the Post-2015 Summit and COP 21. Since the SDGs will be voluntary, he said, translating related commitments into legislation and budgeting will be crucial.

Different countries permanent representative to the UN including Bangladesh Ambassador to UN AK Abdul Momen were present at the discussion.

Finishing the discussion, Saber Hossain Chowdhury joined special events arranged by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and UN General Assembly’s sixty-ninth session president Sam Kahamba Kutesa.

BDST: 1358 HRS, FEB 12, 2015