OIC members urged to address conflicts among Muslims

Bangladesh has asked members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to launch a coordinated effort to address the conflicts and divisions among Muslims on theological ground affecting the solidarity of the ummah, reports BSS.
"OIC member states must strive to expand Islamic cooperation to address the conflicts and divisions, which are threatening the unity of Ummah," a foreign office statement Thursday quoted foreign minister AH Mahmud Ali as telling OIC foreign ministers' council in Jeddah.
He expressed the hope that the common faith and cultural affinity of OIC members would inspire them towards greater cohesion and solidarity to work hand-in-hand for attaining peace alongside prosperity and development for their peoples.
Ali made this call Wednesday while delivering his statement on behalf of the OIC's Asian Group during the opening ceremony of the 41st session of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).
The two-day conference on the theme "Exploring Areas for Islamic Cooperation" was convened by Saudi Arabia and chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas also addressed the opening session.
Ali urged OIC to identify new areas of cooperation within the forum as the organisation was embarking on elaboration of a new Ten-Year Programme of Action and act as a facilitator in replicating best practices of the member states among the forum members.
He said that Bangladesh would be happy to share its success stories such as maintenance of religious and sectarian harmony, containment of terrorism, contribution to peace-keeping, empowerment of women, flourishing of civil society and innovations for social development.
He also mentioned that, given the common values, aspirations and cooperative spirit, OIC member states cooperate and coordinate positions on global issues such as sustainable development goals, post-2015 development agenda and the climate change.
In the context of the need of development of technological know-how for industrialisation of Muslim world, Ali called upon member states to extend full support to the development of the Islamic University of Technology, a Subsidiary Organ of OIC based in Bangladesh, into a centre of excellence.
He particularly sought help in the efforts of the University to construct a dormitory for female students for enabling admission of female students and to form an endowment fund for enhancing its capacity in research and development.
According to the statement the Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh supports OIC efforts to promote the rights and welfare of Muslim minority in Rakhine State through cooperation with Myanmar government for a lasting solution to the problem.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Bangladesh's consistent support for an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its Capital. He welcomed the recent formation of the national consensus government in Palestine.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ali also took part in a special session on the theme 'Peace in the Changing World: Vision of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation'.
"In his intervention, the foreign minister reiterated that Islam is a religion of peace but expressed distress that a large part of Muslim world is in the conflict zones of the day," the statement said.