Before the non-binding resolution was adopted, there was a discussion. MEP Charles Tannock praised the Bangladesh government for its dedication to upholding citizens' freedom of expression. He also commended the government for its efforts in combating terrorism despite facing challenging circumstances. Tannock contrasted this with European countries, noting that despite their economic progress, they continue to struggle in the fight against terrorism. A foreign ministry official, who was present during the debate, mentioned that Tannock also advised Parliament to keep in mind this particular aspect while discussing the sensitive topic or criticizing the efforts made by the Bangladesh government to protect the rights of its citizens. The main focus of the debate was on "freedom of expression and press," specifically in relation to Article 57 of the ICT Act and the current limitations on social media usage. The MEPs strongly denounced the rising attacks by "Islamist extremists" on secular writers, bloggers, religious minorities, and foreign aid workers, expressing worry about the constraints on freedom of speech and press, as well as the shrinking space for civil society organizations. On the other hand, Romanian politician Dan Preda highlighted the large number of newspapers being published in Bangladesh and emphasized that "freedom of expression does exist" in the country. Preda condemned the killings of several journalists and commended the government's 'zero-tolerance policy' towards all forms of terrorism and extremism. He mentioned that Bangladesh is facing threats from terrorist groups and called on the government to take all necessary measures to safeguard the lives of journalists. Jean Lambert, who leads the European Parliament Delegation to South Asia, expressed concern that Bangladesh's vibrant media is currently being targeted. She praised Bangladesh for its progress in areas such as gender equality, child nutrition, and climate change adaptation. Lambert emphasized the importance of restoring a fair justice system to ensure that those responsible for harming journalists are held accountable. Lawmakers also urged the parliament to support Bangladesh in combating the growing presence of fundamentalism and intolerance. A non-binding resolution is a written proposal passed by a group for discussion that does not have the power to become a law. The resolution can cover various topics that are typically brought up as motions. Initially, seven drafts were put forth by different political groups but were eventually combined into one document. The resolution, which was approved, praised Bangladesh for its modern and secular values, as well as its advancements in gender equality, climate change, and socio-economic progress. Additionally, the government's efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, along with its 'zero-tolerance policy', were commended by the MEPs. They recommended changes to the Information and Communication Technology Act, the Cyber-Security Act of 2015, and the Foreign Donation Regulation Act. During the debate, some MEPs strongly expressed their opinions on the death penalty, specifically mentioning the recent execution of war criminals. The European Parliament expressed deep regret over the executions, arrests of opposition leaders, and attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh ambassador to the EU disagreed with these references, stating that it would not be beneficial for the credibility of the European Parliament to express regret when perpetrators of crimes against humanity and genocide are brought to justice. One of the initial seven versions also included mention of the importance of "elections and dialogue," which the ambassador also opposed. However, in the final version, these issues were not included. EU Commissioner for Budget & Human Resources Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the need to prioritize combating radicalization, respecting human rights, and ensuring labor rights in her concluding remarks. She reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in enhancing democracy and governance.