The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dakar

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday called for using the vast resources of the Muslim countries to assist the Muslim Ummah and satisfy its various needs.

He made the call while addressing the general discussion of the 11th summit of the Islamic conference on the second and concluding day at the King Fahd Complex.

Dr Ahmed said, "Many of us in the Ummah are blessed with vast resources of varied kinds. We're eager to use these in a manner to assist our peoples and satisfy their various needs. Thus OIC should be able to help device methodologies for these purposes."

The Chief Adviser said, "Our manpower could be better organised responding to our different requirements. Our sovereign wealth funds and surpluses could be devoted to improving our knowledge base in technology to help the future generations and the youth of the Muslim world."

Expressing happiness over increasing of intra-OIC trade, he said economic interdependence facilitates political unity. He stressed the need for examining in greater depths the possibilities of the Islamic Common Market.

"Trade among Islamic nations should be designed for all (in a way) so that the poorest amongst us can profit from (it)," he said.

Dr Ahmed said, "As chair of LDCs, many of whom are in Africa, Bangladesh would call for a special OIC Programme of Action for the Ummah's neediest."

Referring to multi-pronged challenges confronting by the Islamic Ummah, especially Islamophobia, Dr Ahmed said the Muslim Ummah must do needful to counter these apprehensions.

"We must nullify those fears by our explanations to the world of the positive values of Islam. We must paint to them what Islam stands for," he told the summit.

Dr Ahmed said the Muslim Ummah must demonstrate its commitment towards good governance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, human rights, compassion for the poor, equality of women and justice and equity for all.

He said, "We must underscore that Islam and terrorism are incompatible and absolutely irreconcilable."

Mentioning some other persistent problems, the CA said there can be no solution to the problems of Palestine without a free, sovereign and independent state for its people with Jerusalem as its capital. "We would urge upon the international community, the United Nations and equally the Quartet to exert pressure on Israel to bring this about."

The CA said Bangladesh's support to the cause of the Palestinians is unflinching.

In Afghanistan, he said, Bangladesh continues to support President Karzai for his laudable efforts to lift the Afghan people out of the morose of strife and turmoil.

Dr Ahmed said Bangladesh sees Afghanistan as friend and partner in South Asia.

On Iraq, the CA said, "Our entire civilisation will be laid in ruins unless the Iraqis take control of their own destiny. Only then they will be able to secure political reconciliations, territorial integrity, and security so crucial to peace development, reconstruction and stability of the Iraqi state and society."

About OIC, Dr Ahmed said the organisation needs to be revamped, regenerated, reformed, re-energised and reinvigorated. "We enthusiastically support the revision of its Charter to refurbish its image to bring it in line with contemporaneous time so that we are better equipped and able to deal with the issues of the 21st century."

About Climate Change, he said the Muslim countries must act together to protect the world from the effects of pollution, from the consequences of our own irresponsible actions.

Referring to adverse impacts of climate change, the CA said Bangladesh and others like it with long and low-lying coastlines are particularly vulnerable.

In this regard, he mentioned about two recent devastating floods and powerful Cyclone Sidr that hit Bangladesh as well as the support received from the friendly countries, including many Islamic countries, to overcome the aftermaths.