Hamid urges Islamic world to work out rapid dev plan

FE Team | Published: October 29, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday urged the Islamic world to seriously think about a new development plan and a framework of cooperation for their rapid economic progress, reports UNB.
"It's time for all of us to seriously consider a new development narrative and framework of cooperation. Our people and their wellbeing will have to be at the centre of any new innovative partnership for inclusive growth framework for the Muslim countries," he said.
The President said this while speaking at the opening session of the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) at Madinat Jumerah Conference centre at Dubai, according to a message received in Dhaka.
President Hamid said Bangladesh was ready to consider different innovative forms of partnership but that must be framed based on mutual trust, mutual respect and understanding, mutuality of interests, mutual benefit and equitable sharing of benefits.
"Meeting these objectives is crucial for securing broad-based partnership in a balanced manner," he added.
Though Bangladesh has limited resources and faces various challenges, it has met six out of eights MDGs and its reliance on homegrown innovation and mobilisation and utilisation of local resources was behind this success and resilience, Hamid told the programme.
"We believe, sustainable development can only be achieved through development of people's skills, knowledge and capacities in a knowledge-based society. And it's the overall development of a country that can secure peace, stability and prosperity and upholding justice and democratic values," he added.
President Hamid said Muslim countries need robust, effective and need-based international support in terms of accessible development finance, market access, investment, capacity building and technology.
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktuom, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Abdul Razak, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister of Timor Leste Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel and IDB President Dr Ahmad Mohammed Ali Al-Madani spoke on the occasion.