OIC to Stand by Bangladesh for Swift Rohingya Repatriation, Assures New Secretary-General

The newly elected Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has firmly assured that the OIC will stand by Bangladesh to ensure the swift and safe repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Speaking during a meeting in Jeddah with Ambassador Mr. MJH Javed, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, the Secretary-General warned that failing to resolve this prolonged crisis could pose a grave threat to regional security and cause severe human suffering.

During the envoy’s meeting, Ambassador Mr. Javed delivered a congratulatory letter from Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and President of the 81st UN General Assembly, conveying warm greetings and full government support. The new Secretary-General commended Bangladesh’s recent democratic transition and expressed great optimism that the nation’s economic and social development would gain fresh momentum under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He also noted that Bangladesh is a top priority on his upcoming travel schedule.

Turning to technical cooperation, Secretary-General Ahmed highlighted the significant role of the Islamic University of Technology located in Bangladesh in spreading science and information technology education across member nations. He pledged new support measures to expand IUT’s research and innovation capacities, particularly in emerging areas like artificial intelligence. He praised the university as a key institutional hub capable of driving technological advancement and skill development throughout the wider OIC community.

Concluding the discussions, both sides agreed that OIC member nations could act as complementary economic partners by tapping into their diverse resources. They explored potential win-win ventures in contract farming, healthcare, science, technology, hospitality, and education. Thanking the Secretary-General for his positive vision regarding Bangladesh, Ambassador Mr. Javed reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to collaborating closely with the OIC Secretariat on various bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual concern in the coming years.