News Desk

On May 12, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called on member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to provide stronger support in resolving the long-standing Rohingya crisis, stressing the need for greater international cooperation to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

The appeal came during a courtesy meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Division office at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, where ambassadors and high commissioners of OIC member states stationed in the capital met with the premier, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

During the meeting, the diplomats congratulated Tarique Rahman on assuming office as the Prime Minister and reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to strengthening relations with Bangladesh across multiple sectors.

The OIC envoys expressed strong interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, education, healthcare, textiles and pharmaceuticals. They also reiterated their continued support for Bangladesh on regional and international issues.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked the representatives of the OIC nations on behalf of the government and the people of Bangladesh for their longstanding friendship and support.

Highlighting the burden Bangladesh has carried since the influx of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, the Prime Minister urged the Muslim-majority nations to play a more active role in finding a sustainable solution to the crisis.

He stressed that Bangladesh has continued to shelter more than a million Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds despite mounting economic, environmental and security pressures. The premier noted that durable repatriation remains the only viable solution to the crisis and called for stronger diplomatic engagement by the OIC to ensure accountability and stability in Myanmar.

Tarique Rahman also recalled the close and brotherly ties Bangladesh maintained with OIC member countries during the tenure of Ziaur Rahman and expressed optimism that those relations would grow even stronger in the coming years.

The meeting reflected Bangladesh’s broader diplomatic efforts to deepen engagement with the Muslim world while seeking international backing on key national concerns.

Among those present at the meeting were envoys from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Palestine, Algeria, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Heads of mission from Iran, Iraq and Libya also attended the discussion.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary M Forhadul Islam and Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman were also present during the meeting.