Bangladesh Seeks OIC Support for Rohingya Issue

Bangladesh has urged member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to contribute to the legal fund for the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) while sustaining life-saving humanitarian support. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir appealed during the annual coordination meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Highlighting that Bangladesh shelters over 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingya, he called for active roles from member nations to ensure their prompt, safe, and dignified return to Myanmar.

Stressing the financial and logistical demands of the ongoing crisis, the State Minister called for steady international backing and legal funding. ‘We seek assistance to fund the Gambia’s legal proceedings at the ICJ and to maintain life-saving humanitarian aid for the Rohingya until their repatriation,’ Mr. Humayun Kabir stated. He further emphasized the critical necessity of maintaining continuous international pressure on Myanmar to secure the fundamental rights, safety, and ultimate permanent resolution for the displaced population.

Beyond the humanitarian crisis, the State Minister focused on improving intra-OIC economic ties and addressing structural shortfalls. He pointed out that intra-OIC trade accounted for only 20 percent of total trade in 2024, falling well short of the established 25 percent target. Mr. Kabir advocated for expanding collaboration in trade, investment, connectivity, and renewable energy, while encouraging joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, innovation, and technology transfer to effectively bridge the digital divide among member states.

To support regional human resource development, Bangladesh proposed increasing the budget of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) by 15 to 20 percent. Noting that nearly 60 percent of IUT students rely on international scholarships, Mr. Kabir urged member countries to bolster funding for education and research. He also endorsed the proposed OIC Program of Action 2026–2035 with measurable targets in food security, health, and digital growth, alongside support for the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia to combat global discrimination.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Humayun Kabir reaffirmed Bangladesh’s solidarity with Palestine, calling for an independent state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Commending the leadership of the current OIC chair, Türkiye, and welcoming incoming chair Iraq, he stressed that unity and coordinated action remain essential to tackle shared challenges effectively.