Bangladesh praises OIC for support over Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh has lauded the role of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation or OIC in the ongoing Rohingya crisis.

Bangladesh is currently providing shelter to over one million forcibly displaced people who have fled atrocities in Myanmar.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali thanked the OIC members for coming forward with relief assistance to the persecuted Rohingya people.

Ali, now on a visit to India to attend the Raisina Dialogue, was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Bangladesh High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali in honour of the New Delhi-based ambassadors of OIC member countries on Wednesday.

The foreign minister highly appreciated the strong support the OIC countries extended to Bangladesh in coping with the influx of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the High Commission said.

He expressed the hope that the OIC and the international community will keep the pressure on Myanmar to take back their nationals with dignity and ensure safe resettlement in their homes.

High Commissioner Muazzem Ali thanked the OIC for sponsoring a UN resolution against Myanmar in last November on the Rohingya issue.

The resolution, which was adopted in the General Assembly's Third Committee, was the result of extensive international support due to the cooperation achieved by the OIC with many states.

He said Bangladesh is eagerly waiting to welcome delegates at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting it will host in May this year.

Kamrul Ahsan, Secretary (Consular) at the foreign ministry, also spoke on the occasion.

He is Bangladesh’s candidate for the post of OIC Assistant Secretary General, Science and Technology.