Dhaka – Bangladesh on Tuesday pledged a token contribution of US$ 50,000 to finance the Strategic Plan for Development of Al-Quds and Al-Sharif of Palestine.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, on behalf of the Bangladesh government, made the commitment during her participation in the OIC Foreign Ministers’ ‘Donor Conference on Strategic Plan for Development of Al-Quds and Al-Sharif’ and ‘Conference on Establishing an Islamic Financial Safety Net in support of the State of Palestine’ being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Dipu Moni reiterated Bangladesh’s unstinted support for a fully sovereign Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds (East Jerusalem) as its capital, according to a message received here on Tuesday.
She informed that Bangladesh is proud to be a member of the Al-Quds Committee of OIC that is mandated to follow up the implementation of Al-Quds-related resolutions adopted by the conferences of OIC.
The Foreign Minister said being also a member of NAM Committee on Palestine, Bangladesh has been contributing to moulding of international opinion in favour of Palestinian rights.
She condemned the Israeli policy of Judaising the City of Al-Quds through cultural aggression and expanding Jewish settlements.
Dipu Moni remarked that the struggle of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem is a peaceful resistance against occupation.
She underscored the need for OIC member states to stand by the Palestinian brothers and sisters at this juncture of history.
The Foreign Minister said the government and the people of Bangladesh have deep goodwill for the Palestinians and that Bangladesh considers herself a potential development partner of Palestine and stands ready to share her development experience.
The 12th OIC Summit held in Cairo, Egypt on 06-07 February 2013 had adopted the Strategic Plan for Development of Al-Quds and Al-Sharif which anticipates development of 12 sectors in the occupied East Jerusalem and called for a Donor Conference to finance implementation of the Plan.
On the fringe of the OIC meeting, Dipu Moni also had bilateral talks with the Minister for Health Services of Azerbaijan, Dr. Ogtay Shiraliyev.
During the meeting, two sides discussed possible enhancement of cooperation in the health sector, particularly promotion of export of pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh to Azerbaijan.
Later in the day, the Foreign Minister paid a visit the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and signed along with Azerbaijan Foreign Minister a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) of Bangladesh and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA) of Azerbaijan.
She is expected to attend a working dinner by the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan.
(Source: UNB)
