OIC to continue supporting Bangladesh against killings by Islamist militants

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani has reaffirmed “support and solidarity” with Bangladesh against recent terrorist killings in Gulshan and stressed on cooperation among the member countries.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 18 August 2016, 04:26 PM
Updated : 18 August 2016, 04:26 PM

The foreign ministry said he met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday in Dhaka.

He arrived on Wednesday on a two-day "working visit" as part of his tour of the four Asian OIC member countries. This is his third trip to Bangladesh.

The foreign minister thanked Madani for his support and solidarity with Bangladesh which he expressed following the July 1 terrorist attack in Gulshan.

He urged the secretary general for his greater role in enhancing OIC solidarity and appreciated the initiatives and projects he has undertaken to deal with the problems facing the Muslim community.

The OIC chief lauded Bangladesh for its constructive role in OIC for peace and development in the Muslim world.

He particularly appreciated the role of Bangladesh leadership and remarked that Bangladesh was “very active” in OIC and its views were widely respected, the foreign ministry said.

Conflict situation and problems of the Muslim world was discussed. They also talked about OIC mechanisms and cooperation to counter terrorism and stressed the need for debunking false narratives of the radicals and terrorists.

The secretary general talked of the OIC mechanism of a “messaging centre" to post messages countering false narrative of the terrorists from October.

Issues concerning the forthcoming 43rd session of Council of Foreign Ministers to be held in Tashkent in October were also discussed and views of the foreign minister was also sought.

The secretary general sought the foreign minister’s support for the OIC’s efforts regarding Syrian crisis and holding second Ulama conference in Afghanistan.

He also solicited Bangladesh’s support and involvement in the rapprochement initiatives and conflict resolution mechanisms of OIC.

They discussed on the situation of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim states and the need for humanitarian assistance.

He will leave on Friday.