Visiting Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani on Sunday Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take initiatives for the repatriation of Myanmar refugees from Bangladesh.
Madani made the request when he met the Prime Minister at her parliament building office.In reply, the Prime Minister said she raised the issue with the Myanmar President and discussed it during her visits to Myanmar in 2011 and on March 3 last.
Hasina said in her meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein on March 3 said that the Myanmar refugee problem should be resolved through peaceful and amicable bilateral discussions between the two friendly neigbours.
PM’s special assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil briefed reporters after the meeting between the Prime Minister and the OIC secretary general.
He said Ameen Madani said that the extremism among some Muslims is the main enemy of the religion. “We have to raise voice against this extremism as this is harming Islam, the religion of peace,” he requested the Prime Minister.
In this connection, the Prime Minister requested the OIC secretary general to take effective steps for making the Muslim Ummah united. “If the Muslim world work together for the peace and development, all member states of the OIC will be benefited,” she said.
Hasina recalled the role of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over joining the OIC summit in 1974.
Though the majority of the people in Bangladesh are Muslims, the people of various religions have long been living here peacefully and performing their religious activities freely.
The OIC secretary general praised the freedom of speech in Bangladesh and said that the number of newspapers and media houses in the country proves that they are enjoying their freedom without any hindrance.
In this connection, Hasina said that the government believes in freedom of the press and is working for that.
Emphasising the importance of a stronger Muslim country, Iyad Ameen Madani said that a strong Muslim country means a stronger OIC and a stronger OIC means a stronger Ummah.
He also said that the Muslim Ummah could work together for alleviating illiteracy and poverty, and praised Sheikh Hasina for the advancement of the women empowerment in Bangladesh.
In this regard, Sheikh Hasina said Islam always gives importance to women empowerment.
The OIC secretary general thanked the Prime Minister for Bangladesh’s support to him during his election for the OIC SG post.
Shakil said Iyad Ameen Madani congratulated the Prime Minister for being elected as the Prime Minister for the third time through a free and fair election. – UNB
