Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Sunday invited Norwegian companies to explore and extract oil and gas in Bangladesh's coastal areas, including Bhola.

He made the invitation when Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen paid a courtesy call on him at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Hafiz Uddin said the democratic rights of the people had been undermined during the 17 years of autocratic regime and “farcical elections” under the Awami League government had kept parliamentary democracy in a state of confinement.

He alleged that the authoritarian government had established a reign of terror through enforced disappearances, killings, terrorism and extrajudicial killings.

Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and senior leaders of the then opposition had repeatedly been imprisoned, the Speaker said.

He said the July 2024 mass uprising ended the authoritarian rule and ushered in a renewed democratic journey in the country.

Hafiz Uddin described the 13th parliamentary election as one of the most credible elections in Bangladesh's history, saying the current government formed with the mandate received in the election has been working to fulfil the democratic aspirations of the people.

He said Bangladesh is always playing a leading role in protecting human rights worldwide.

The Speaker also stressed the need for international support, alongside the Bangladesh government's efforts, for the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.

He said Norway and other European countries can play a role in helping repatriate the Rohingya people.

Hafiz Uddin said the friendly relations between Norway and Bangladesh have developed since the country's Liberation War in 1971, describing Norway as one of the world's democratic countries.

He said Norway has always extended cooperation in promoting parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

Norwegian Ambassador Gulbrandsen said Bangladesh has long been participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

He praised Bangladesh's role in maintaining global peace through the deployment of peacekeepers to UN missions.

The ambassador said Norway is always ready to support the expansion of parliamentary democracy and the protection of human rights in Bangladesh.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the formation of a parliamentary friendship group between the two countries, exchanges of parliamentary delegation visits and the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of significant contributions to global peace.

They also discussed the ongoing activities of the Constitution Amendment Committee and the July National Charter.

Representatives of the Norwegian Embassy and the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat secretary, among others, were present at the meeting, according to a press release.