Around 600 parliamentarians from 52 Commonwealth countries will assemble today at the annual flagship event of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address the critical issues facing today’s parliaments.  Dhaka will host the CPC conference for the first time with the theme "Continuing to enhance high standards of performance of parliamentarians". Sources said that around 600 MPs, including speakers and deputy speakers, from 180 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) branches of 52 Commonwealth countries will take part in the conference. The CPA president, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who is also the Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, will preside over the event which will be held from November 1 to November 8.

This conference will be the second largest gathering after the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference held in April this year.  The 62nd CPC was supposed to be held in Dhaka in September last year, but it was postponed due to the militant attacks at Holey Artisan Bakery in July last year.

Event organisers said that they have gained much experience from last year’s IPU conference and are now ready to host the event.

There is an opportunity to discuss the Rohingya crisis on the sixth day of the conference at a workshop titled “What factors fuel the rise of different kinds of nationalism?”, the organisers said.

The event will also provide Bangladesh an opportunity to present the country before the world community.

The conference will be presided over by Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, who is also the chairperson of the executive committee of the CPA. The conference will be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on November 5. Hasina is also the vice-patron of the event.

The National Assembly has taken all necessary preparations to highlight Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before the world. His autobiography, “The Unfinished Memoirs”, will be presented to the foreign guests.

As in the IPU conference, the CPA meet will also show a documentary on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to highlight his long struggle for the independence of Bangladesh. The success stories of the current government, headed by Prime Minister Hasina, will also be displayed.

The organisers have said that a postal stamp will be unveiled on the occasion. A fair will be held on the conference premises showcasing local handicrafts from where foreign delegates can purchase spectacular products.  The event will be held at Radisson Blu from November 1 to November 5, and the programme will be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre from November 6 to November 7.

The organisers said all arrangements have been made to ensure the security of the guests.

All intelligence agencies, including the inspector general of police, director general of the Rapid Action Battalion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner,  Detective Branch and armed forces, are in charge of the security of the foreign guests. There will be several layers of security from the airport to hotels and then from hotels to the conference venue. Besides, members of intelligence agencies will be in plainclothes, the organisers added.