The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will stand by Bangladesh in its efforts to ensure the speedy repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar, newly elected OIC Secretary General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has said.

He made the assurance when Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Ambassador MJH Jabed, called on him in Jeddah on Wednesday and handed over a letter of felicitations from Foreign Minister and President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly Dr Khalilur Rahman.

The OIC secretary general warned that the protracted Rohingya crisis can jeopardise regional security, causing immense suffering for all if it is not properly addressed.

During the meeting, the Bangladesh ambassador conveyed the sincere wishes of the Bangladesh foreign minister to the new OIC secretary general and expressed full support from the government of Bangladesh in discharging his responsibilities.

Secretary General Cheikh Ahmed highly lauded the democratic transition in Bangladesh and expressed the optimism that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the country's development journey will gain new momentum.

He noted the valuable contributions of the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), a subsidiary organ of the OIC hosted by Bangladesh, to spreading science and technology education in OIC member states.

The OIC secretary general assured the ambassador of taking new initiatives for broadening the research and innovation capacity of the IUT, particularly in different fields of artificial intelligence, and indicated that Bangladesh is among his priority countries to visit.

It was agreed at the meeting that OIC countries can complement each other in various programmes and activities as they present diversity in resource endowments.

It was noted that in contract farming, healthcare, science and technology, hospitality, education and in a number of productive sectors and sub-sectors, the member states can cooperate and implement projects in a win-win proposition.

Thanking the OIC secretary general for his inspiring and positive outlook on Bangladesh, its people and leadership, Jabed stated that Bangladesh looks forward to closely working with the OIC Secretariat on cross-cutting issues in the coming years.