Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) needs to play its due role to stop fratricidal conflicts among Muslim countries.
“OIC should play its role to stop fratricidal conflicts among Muslim countries,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this when visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met her at her office.
PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for unity among the Muslim Ummah as the third party is being benefited due to divisions and conflicts among Muslim countries.
“Muslims are shedding blood while others are enjoying benefits out of that,” Sheikh Hasina was quoted as saying.
There may be conflicts between two neighbours and that can be resolved bilaterally or multilaterally, she added.
Noting that religious harmony traditionally prevails in the country, Sheikh Hasina said she has adopted two Shia girls.
Focusing on her government’s aim of economic development, she said Bangladesh has attained 8.1 percent GDP growth keeping inflation rate at 5.4 percent in the 2018-’19 fiscal year.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh shares historical and cultural ties with Iran. There are many Farsi words that have been amalgamated in Bengali language, she said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the Prime Minister.
He highly praised the socio-economic progress of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“I’m impressed with socioeconomic development of Bangladesh. It has happened due to your (Hasina) personal leadership,” Javad Zarif was quoted as telling Hasina.
He described the progress of Bangladesh as an exemplary achievement.
Mentioning that a good bilateral relation prevails between Bangladesh and Iran, Javad Zarif said Tehran will hold a seminar marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020.
The visiting minister also appreciated the role of Prime Minister in the OIC forum. “We want unity. We want good relations with all the OIC members, including Saudi Arabia,” he was quoted as saying.
The visiting Iranian minister apprised the PM of the present situation in Iran after the recent US sanctions.
