Dhaka, May 30 – Bangladesh on Thursday proposed a new platform for the Ulema to work together to counter extremism and terrorism at the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) Council of foreign ministers.
Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen emphasised that the Muslim nations should be able to resolve their own issues within OIC and proposed the new platform for the Ulema to work together to combat extremism and terrorism.
The minister also sought the support of the OIC member states in resolving the Rohingya crisis erupted due to the persecution of the Myanmar army.
The minister came up with the proposal at the ministerial level meeting at Jeddah conference Palace of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the 14th Islamic Summit of the OIC, a press release said.
The foreign minister is leading a Bangladeshi delegation which includes Golam Moshi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and PR to OIC and Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Director General (International Organisations) and other officials of the Ministry and Bangladesh Embassy and Consulate General in Saudi Arabia.
During his intervention at the Ministerial Level meeting, Abdul Momen highlighted the need for solidarity and unity among the member states of OIC and stressed on cooperation in diversified fields while underscoring the urgency for addressing the major challenges of the Muslim Ummah such as the conflict situation and tension in many OIC countries, terrorism, Islamophobia, humanitarian issues, and underdevelopment.
While speaking on cooperation for faster development, the foreign minister stressed the need for synchronising policies and programmes of the Islamic Development Bank with the goals and targets of the OIC under its second ten-year development plan.
Dr. Momen prominently highlighted the issue of the forcibly displaced Rohingya community of Myanmar sheltered in Bangladesh and sought the support of the OIC member states in resolving the crisis.
He particularly urged on addressing the two important issues- their repatriation to Myanmar and the issue of accountability and justice for gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity done against the Rohingya.
He appreciated the Gambia led initiative of taking legal recourse to establish Rohingya rights and address their justice question at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar. Rohingya issue got prominence in the ministerial meeting.
The meeting agreed on the outcome documents – a resolution on Palestine and the draft final communique, which among other issues, covered the Rohingya crisis and contain directions for member states to address the return and accountability questions.
The drafts were finalized by the Senior officials meeting on 27 May 2019 in which the Bangladesh delegation was led by Director General AFM Gousal Azam Sarker.
In the sidelines, the Foreign Minister attended the Ad hoc Ministerial Committee Meeting dealing with the Banjul process of accountability and justice for Rohingya. The meeting came out very productive and fruitful.
At the sidelines, the Abdul Momen met his counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei
The leaders discussed various issues of mutual concern as well as issues of importance for the Muslim Ummah in general.
The issue of Rohingya featured prominently during the discussion and the leaders put emphasis on the repatriation and accountability of the perpetrators.
Dr. Momen also called for greater economic integration and trade facilitation among the countries.
He also discussed with South East Asian Cooperation Forum for economic integration in the region which is expected to be launched in Dhaka in June 2019. – Staff Reporter
