Hasan Mahmud meets OIC Secretary General

Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud paid a call on Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud at the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah today (March 6, 2024).

He is leading the Bangladesh delegation to attend the 19th Extraordinary CFM of the OIC on Israel's aggression on the Palestinian People in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction on the level of bilateral engagement between the two brotherly countries and hoped that such cooperation would deepen in the coming days.

He hoped that the proposed visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Bangladesh will take place soon at a convenient time. The Saudi Foreign Minister assured of further discussing this upcoming visit mentioning that Saudi Arabia considers their engagement with Bangladesh on the basis of sophisticated economic cooperation which has taken place during the last three years.

He looked forward to further augment sectoral cooperation between the two countries and increased trade and investment opportunities. Foreign Minister Mahmud sought cooperation in crude oil purchase which his Saudi counterpart assured to consider including investment in refinery and petrochemical industries.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister reiterated his country’s firm support for the cause of Palestine. Expressing concern on the escalation of violence leading to genocide, he hoped that the strong statement delivered at the Extraordinary CFM would help in ending the conflict soon thus responding to the demand of the Muslim Ummah.

Saudi Foreign Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on forming government for the 4th consecutive time and praised her leadership for hosting forcibly displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh on humanitarian ground while assuring full cooperation of Saudi Arabia on the Rohingya issue. He also praised her leadership for taking Bangladesh to new heights of economic development.

Earlier Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud paid a call on the OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha at his office at the OIC Secretariat in Jeddah.

During the meeting, the Hon’ble Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s firm support for the cause of Palestine underscoring the need of Muslim countries to unite under the leadership of the OIC. He mentioned the strong statement delivered by Bangladesh at the ICJ in February on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and hoped that peace will be established soon in the region which is the desire of the Muslim Ummah.

Foreign Minister appreciated the relentless support and cooperation of the OIC for Rohingya crisis, particularly OIC’s efforts to mobilize fund for the Rohingya case filed by The Gambia in the ICJ and hoped for its continuation. He invited the Secretary General to visit Bangladesh again to see the current situation of the Rohingyas particularly in Bhasan Char.

The OIC Secretary General praised the exemplary leadership of Sheikh Hasina for hosting forcibly displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh on humanitarian ground, and reaffirmed OIC’s unwavering resolve to support Rohingya people.

Foreign Minister called on greater trade and investment among the OIC Member States to counter the dire economic situation created worldwide due to the Russia- Ukraine war and proposed setting up of a Cell at the OIC Secretariat to disseminate trade related information to the members.