DHAKA: The Secretary General (SG) of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani called on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at Foreign Ministry in the capital Sunday.
The Foreign Minister welcomed the Secretary General on his first visit to Bangladesh.
He remarked that, since joining OIC through the historic participation of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the 2nd OIC Summit in February 1974, Bangladesh has remained committed to the fundamental principles of the OIC both in pursuing political solidarity of Muslim Ummah and in promoting cooperation among member states in economic, social, cultural, educational and other vital fields of activities.
The Minister expressed the hope that the new Secretary General would play a proactive role in addressing the developmental and environmental challenges of the member states of OIC and that OIC should evolve into an effective mouthpiece for articulating the concerns of the member states on such issues in various global fora.
He sought support of the Secretary General in further development of the Islamic University of Technology, a subsidiary organ of OIC that Bangladesh has been hosting.
During the call, the OIC Secretary General paid tribute to Bangladesh for her constructive role in OIC endeavours for peace and development in the Muslim world.
He expressed particular appreciation for Bangladesh’s consistent support for the cause Palestine that lies at the core of OIC agenda and her hosting of the Islamic University of Technology, an important the Subsidiary Organ of OIC.
The Secretary General pledged all-out efforts for further enhancing the existing cooperation between Bangladesh and OIC in various fields. The Secretary General exchanged views with the Foreign Minister on developments in the regional and international arena, particularly in the Muslim world.
The Secretary General also met Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, prior to the meeting with the Foreign Minister and had a threadbare discussion on cooperation between Bangladesh and OIC.
The Secretary General is leading a five-member delegation on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh.
During the visit, he is also expected to call on President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, apart from visiting some institutions.
Madani, a former Minister of Saudi Arabia, assumed office as the tenth Secretary General of OIC on 01 January 2014 after his election in the 12th OIC Summit held in Cairo, Egypt in February 2013. Bangladesh is among the first few countries that the Secretary General decided to visit after taking over the helms of the General Secretariat of OIC.
OIC is the second largest international organization (after the UN family) that groups together 57 Muslim-majority countries spread over four Continents.
It was established through a decision of the Summit in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 25 September 1969 in response to an act of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem of Palestine.
The Organization’s main objective is to protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various peoples of the world.
BDST: 2100 HRS, MAR 09, 2014
