OIC secretary general arrives
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT
Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al Othaimeen arrived in the capital last night on a four-day tour to discuss matters related to Muslim Ummah.
Secretary (Bilateral and Consular) of the Foreign Ministry Kamrul Ahsan received the OIC chief at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. This is his first visit to Bangladesh since assuming office, according to a foreign ministry official.
Today, Dr Al-Othaimeen, who is leading a five-member delegation, will call on President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and will hold a meeting with foreign minister A H Mahmood Ali. Tomorrow, he is expected to visit the Kutupalong Camp and surroundings in Coxs Bazar and the Rakhine Muslims express OIC sympathy and solidarity with them, according to the foreign ministry.
This will give him an opportunity of briefing from the local administration and representatives of international humanitarian organizations working there. This visit will give the secretary general an opportunity to familiarise himself with Bangladesh, a country playing increasingly important role in OIC.
It will also give him the opportunity to seek views and suggestions of Bangladesh leadership on various OIC issues and matters of importance to the Muslim Ummah.
As Bangladesh is going to host the 45th OIC council of foreign ministers next year, this visit will allow discussion on Bangladesh-OIC Secretariat cooperation apart from various other areas of bilateral cooperation.
