By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka : President Zillur Rahman underlined the need for increasing more international assistance to make Bangladesh a poverty and illiteracy free country.
“The present government has taken the agenda of making a poverty-free Bangladesh on priority basis,” he said while visiting Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic
Congress (OIC)Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called on him at Bangabhaban here.
Welcoming the OIC Secretary General, the President affirmed that Bangladesh remains committed to promoting the causes of the Islamic Ummah and the Charter of the OIC.
Mentioning that Bangladesh joined to OIC under the leadership of great leader Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974, The President said, since then the country has been playing an active role in different activities of OIC.
“Bangabandhu had shown his keen interest to unified Muslim Ummah on various issues through the OIC”, he recalled.
The President assured the OIC secretary general that the present government would continue to extend areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and OIC.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is one of the worst affected country due to the adverse affect of climate change, the President observed that the issue of climate change needs to be
addressed at different international forum with more importance.
Zillur Rahman said the ongoing OIC’s effort would discourage the vested interest groups attempt to associate Islam with terrorism, human rights violation and any such crimes committed in the name of Islam.
“Bangladesh always condemns terrorism in all forms of manifestations” he said.
Mentioning that he is going to attend the Economic Summit of the OIC’s Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), to be held in Istanbul on Nov 9, the President expressed his gratitude to the COMCEC Chairperson Turkish President Abdullah Gul for inviting him to the summit.
The Secretary General apprised the President that the OIC is no more a religious forum rather presently it turned itself into the second largest political organization of the world next to the United Nations.
“Presently USA and other European countries are showing their keen interest to be the observers of the OIC and the USA has already appointed a special envoy to the OIC,” he said.
Paying his rich tribute to the memories of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu showed his interest to know about the lifestyle of the great leader from President Zillur Rahman, who was a close associate of him.
He also expressed his hope that under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh would be able to achieve its desired goal soon.
The OIC secretary General led a six-member delegation including OIC Director General (Cultural and Social Affairs) Ambassador Hemayetuddin and Director General (Science and
Technology) Dr Razley M Noreddin.