OIC SG in city for 4 days

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr Yousef bin Ahmad Al Othaimeen arrived here midnight last night on a four-day official trip marking his first ever visit to Bangladesh since assuming charge of new office.

Secretary (Bilateral and Consular) of the Foreign Ministry Kamrul Ahsan received the OIC chief at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. 

The OIC Secretary General is visiting here at a time when Bangladesh is preparing to host the 10th session of OIC Tourism Minister's meeting in November this year and the next Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in the first half of 2018. 

The secretary general is schedule to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid at 10 am and 4:15pm today. 

He will also hold a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali today who will also host a dinner in honour of him in the evening.

During his visit, the Secretary General and his accompanying delegation will also hold a meeting with Opposition Leader in Parliament Raushon Ershad.

The OIC Secretary General will visit the Kutupalong Camp and surroundings in Cox's Bazar and the Rakhine Muslims there on Friday to express OIC 'sympathy and solidarity' with them.

The visit, according to the Foreign Ministry officials, will give the Secretary General an opportunity to familiarise himself with Bangladesh, a country playing increasingly important role in OIC.

The visit is expected to allow discussion on Bangladesh-OIC Secretariat cooperation apart from various other areas of bilateral cooperation as Bangladesh is going to host the 45th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers next year, said the Foreign Ministry.

Source: bss