DHAKA: Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali called for seeking and identifying new areas of cooperation within the forum of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as the Organization is embarking on elaboration of a new Ten Year Program of Action.
The minister made this call Wednesday while delivering his statement on behalf of the Asian Group during the opening ceremony of the 41st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC taking place in Jeddah on the theme ‘Exploring Areas for Islamic Cooperation’.
Mahmood Ali observed that OIC member states must strive to expand Islamic cooperation to address the conflicts and divisions, which are threatening to the unity of Ummah.
He expressed the hope that the common faith and cultural affinity of OIC member states would inspire them towards greater cohesion and solidarity to work hand-in-hand for attaining peace, prosperity and development for the peoples, according to the foreign ministry release.
The Foreign Minister thanked the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for convening the Council meeting that was chaired by Saudi foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal.
The opening session was also addressed by the president Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine.
Later in the day, making his statement on behalf of Bangladesh, the FM suggested that OIC facilitate sharing of the best practices of member states which could transform the society of others in a positive manner.
He said that Bangladesh would be happy to share its success stories such as maintenance of religious and sectarian harmony, containment of terrorism, contribution to peace-keeping, empowerment of women, flourishing of civil society and innovations for social development.
He also mentioned that, given the common values, aspirations and cooperative spirit, OIC member states cooperate and coordinate positions on global issues such as sustainable development goals, post-2015 development agenda, climate change and so on.
In the context of the need of development of technological know-how for industrialization of Muslim world, he called upon member states to extend full support to the development of the Islamic University of Technology, a Subsidiary Organ of OIC based in Bangladesh, into a centre of excellence.
He particularly sought help in the efforts of the University to construct a dormitory for female students for enabling admission of female students and to form an endowment fund for enhancing its capacity in research and development.
The Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh supports OIC efforts to promote the rights and welfare of Muslim minority in Rakhine State through cooperation with Myanmar government for a lasting solution to the problem.
He reiterated Bangladesh’s consistent support for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its Capital.
He welcomed the recent formation of the national consensus government in Palestine.
The Foreign Minister also participated in a Special Session on the theme ‘Peace in the Changing World: Vision of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’.
In his intervention, the FM reiterated that Islam is a religion of peace but expressed distress that a large part of Muslim world is in the conflict zones of the day.
He called for building bridges between the Muslim world and the rest of the world; embracing broadness to address sectarian divisions; zero tolerance to terrorism and pursuit of inclusive development as elaborated in the ‘peoples empowerment and peace-centric development model’ of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that was adopted by the 67th UN General Assembly in 2012.
Mahmood Ali also participated in a meeting of OIC Contact Group on Muslim Minority in Myanmar held on the sidelines of the Council meeting.
The Foreign Minister appreciated the efforts of the OIC General Secretariat for engagement with the Myanmar government on the rights and welfare of the Muslim minority in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
He indicated that Bangladesh government has been pursuing its goal of building a robust, friendly and mutually beneficial relation with Myanmar and remains committed to resolving the issues of influx and return of refugees from Myanmar through sustained dialogue, understanding and cooperation.
The Bangladesh delegation to the 41st Session of CFM also included Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium Ismat Jahan; Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Md. Shahidul Islam; Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico M Fazlul Karim, Director General (International Organizations) of Foreign Ministry Tarik Ahsan and other high officials.
OIC is the second largest international organization (after the UN family) that groups together 57 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 against 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: 1610 HRS, JUN 19, 2014
