Dhaka Saturday, 19 May 2018:

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, M.P. called for an international independent investigation and legal action against the Israeli authorities for crimes and atrocities perpetrated on the Palestinian people. He led an eight-member Bangladesh delegation to the 7th OIC Extraordinary Summit in Istanbul, Turkey on 18 May 2018.

The Extraordinary Summit was convened by OIC Summit Chair-Turkey in response to the grave developments in the state of Palestine, as a result of ongoing Israeli brutal killing and aggression against the unarmed Palestinian people and the illegal inauguration of the US Embassy in Al-Quds in violation of international law and the UN Security Council resolutions.

The Foreign Minister conveyed that the people of Bangladesh and the government lead by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemn the Israeli atrocities and deplore the US relocation of its Embassy. He conveyed condolences of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the bereaved Palestinians and expressed full support, sympathy, and solidarity with the Palestinian brothers and sisters.

In his statement delivered in the Extraordinary Summit, he reaffirmed Bangladesh’s principled position of the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous Palestinian state within pre-67 borders with East Jerusalem-Al Quds as its capital under a two-state solution.

He emphasized the importance of engaging international community proactively and to reaching out to important state capitals. And in doing so, the members of OIC must stand strong and united to support the rightful cause of the brotherly people of Palestine.

The Summit adopted a final Communique on the “cold-blooded” massacre of the Palestinian civilian protesters by the Israeli forces as well as on the official opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem in defiance of international law, UNSC, and UNGA Resolutions. The communique reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the OIC.

Bangladesh delegation included Security Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Major Gen. (retd.) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, who led the delegation to the Council of Foreign Ministers while Foreign Minister Ali was in the podium in his special role as the Chair of 45th OIC CFM. Other members included in the delegation were Bangladesh PR to OIC Amb. Golam Moshi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey Mr. M. Allama Siddiki, DG, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, and other senior officials of the Ministry and Bangladesh Missions.