United News of Bangladesh

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is likely to be in Dhaka on Wednesday night as part of "high-level exchanges" between the two countries, officials said on Tuesday. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will host a lunch in honour of his Indian counterpart during his brief visit. There are discussions regarding forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India within next couple of months. The preparatory issues may also come up for discussion during Indian FS's engagements in Dhaka, said a diplomatic source. His planned visit to Bangladesh last month was postponed. “Look, elections are underway there (in India). It (visit) was postponed because of various internal (India's) reasons,” Foreign Minister Hasan told reporters when asked about the reasons behind the postponement of the visit at that time. Though there was no official announcement from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, the Indian FS was scheduled to be in Dhaka on a brief visit on April 20. Diplomatic sources indicate that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is planned for early July, after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s o election. World's largest democratic exercise, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the vote count set for June 4. Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election. "Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently. He said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place. In January, Modi extended warm congratulations to PM Hasina on her electoral victory, expressing hopes for the continued strengthening of the historically close ties between India and Bangladesh. The last bilateral engagement between the two prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023, where Bangladesh was the guest country. PM Modi is expected to extend invitations to South Asian and BIMSTEC country leaders for his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation. The government of India in March extended Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's tenure by six months. Kwatra assumed charge as India’s foreign secretary on 1 May, 2022 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988.

Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Amy Pope has laid emphasis on broader use of data and data analytics to understand which communities will be impacted the most by climate change so that they can identify those communities. “So understanding what's happening in Bangladesh will require much more analysis and research,” she said in a group interview with five journalists representing local and international media outlets including UNB while responding to a question on climate migration. The IOM DG said that is exactly the kind of investment that they are asking governments to make because governments will spend billions of dollars in their border enforcement but they do not spend the same kind of funds in understanding the drivers of migration and then helping to enable communities to adapt or stabilize movements of people. Pope, who became Director General of the IOM on 1 October 2023, said their goal is also to teach people either new skills, or new ways of working or in some cases using migration as an adaptation strategy. “So that means not waiting until millions of people are displaced because they have no other option.” Responding to a question from UNB, she said it is not just in Bangladesh, last year, the number of new displacements more were caused by climate impact and conflict around the world. “And we know that hundreds of millions of people now live in communities that are extremely vulnerable to climate impact.” In 2022 alone, disasters triggered over 1.5 million displacements in Bangladesh, according to World Migration Report 2024. The subregion has experienced devastating disasters in recent years, some of which have been linked to climate change. Southern Asia is extremely vulnerable to climate shocks and has experienced extreme weather events such as heatwaves and floods in recent years. Long monsoon seasons, hotter weather and increased droughts are all expected to become the “new normal” in the subregion as temperatures continue to rise. Responding to another question, she said when there are large movements of displaced people globally, it often is to neighboring countries and neighboring countries that just do not have the capacity themselves to respond to those pressures. “So our key message to donors and this is true, particularly with Bangladesh, is that we need to continue to invest in a response of the neighboring country, a neighboring country which is really shouldering a much greater burden as a result of the conflict,” Pope, the first woman to hold the post in IOM’s 73-year history, told UNB. And as a gesture of solidarity, she said, governments make a wise investment in the capacity of that host government to be able to continue to host those populations. “So for example, yesterday, when I went to the [Rohingya] camps, we invited a number of donors to go with us. We invited the World Bank to go with us who's made some investments in the camps. And we invited some private sector partners, recognizing that we need a wide range of partners to help support,” she said. The IOM DG said they know that the government is challenged by the current population density in Bangladesh of Bangladeshi nationals and the availability of job opportunities or economic for charities for them. “So that's kind of a starting point for the government. But we do know as a best practice, for any displaced community, there are two things. Our evidence shows that when they have stable shelters, they're more likely to be able to move forward. And it helps to prevent a number of related consequences. So shelters and shelter stability is key,” Pope said. The second is the ability to integrate into the job market, she said, adding that, “So where we've seen better outcomes, it's because people can have access to education, and they can have access to jobs. If not, then they're wholly dependent on humanitarian aid.” And the worry there is that humanitarian aid is decreasing, including to the Rohingya population, frankly, as a result of economies that have been impacted by COVID, and inflation, and other challenges, but also because a number of complex around the world have grown quite considerably over the last several years, so the pressures on the humanitarian system are higher, the DG said. She said they are encouraging all governments, not just Bangladesh, but any government that is hosting a large number of displaced people to enable them to access the job market so that they are able to build out solutions for themselves and not be so reliant on humanitarian assistance. “I had the opportunity to discuss the Rohingya crisis in quite a lot of detail with her (PM Sheikh Hasina) and about how we can build out better outcomes, especially for women and girls, who we know are particularly vulnerable right now in the camps,” she said. The IOM DG said the smugglers are very sophisticated when using social media and they see this around the world. “There are simply not enough regular pathways for people to access, not enough investment in enabling communities to access those regular pathways, or information about what someone needs to do or what skills they might need,” she said. “So if we want to have any hope of countering the digitalization of the smuggling economy, we need to do better at providing access both to regular migration opportunities, but to communities who might otherwise migrate irregularly and help them figure out how to migrate regularly,” she added. She said the mapping around what drives people to migrate is uneven and this is where they are encouraging governments to invest. “The ideal solution is for every person who's coming across and we need to understand what drove them to migrate, where they're coming from, and when they came. So in some cases, we have a pretty comprehensive displacement tracking matrix,” said the DG, adding that “But we are seeing increasingly people are being driven by climate change.” The current United Nations estimate is that there are about 281 million international migrants in the world, which equates to 3.6 per cent of the global population. But increasing numbers of people are being displaced, within and out of their country of origin, because of conflict, violence, political or economic instability as well as climate change and other disasters. In 2022, there were 117 million displaced people in the world, and 71.2 million internally displaced people. The number of asylum-seekers has risen from 4.1 million in 2020 to 5.4 million in 2022, an increase of more than 30 per cent.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said Bangladesh will not only continue to act upon the pledges it has made for its domestic context but would also take up emerging issues and challenges pertaining to migration and development for informed deliberations at the international level. "Bangladesh remained active in the formulation of the Compact, in developing the modalities for its implementation review, and also in steering its first review process," he said while speaking at the launching ceremony of the World Migration Report (WMR) 2024 as the chief guest. IOM Director-General Amy Pope, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangladesh Abdusattor Esoev, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley and former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, among others, spoke. Hasan said it was Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who first the mooted the idea of the Global Migration Compact during her address to the UN General Assembly in 2016. The WMR 2024 makes a compelling case about ever growing number of forced displacements due to conflicts and violence, said the Minister. The mass atrocities being committed in the Gaza Strip by the occupying Israeli forces, violating international norms of selectivity or proportionality, are an affront to our shared humanity, he said. "In our immediate neighbourhood, the increasingly complex security situation in Myanmar has led to resurgence in mixed migratory movements across borders," Hasan said. This is causing unwarranted delay in the much-awaited repatriation of the 1.3 million Rohingya now sheltered in Bangladesh, aggravating their sense of frustration and internecine conflicts, he observed.

International migration remains a driver of human development and economic growth, highlighted by a more than 650 percent increase in international remittances from 2000 to 2022, rising from USD 128 billion to USD 831 billion, according to a new global report released today. The growth continued despite predictions from many analysts that remittances would decrease substantially because of COVID-19. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the World Migration Report 2024, which reveals significant shifts in global migration patterns, including a record number of displaced people and a major increase in international remittances. IOM Director General Amy Pope formally released the report in Bangladesh, which stands at the "forefront of migration" challenges, including emigration, immigration and displacement. "We hope the report inspires collaborative efforts to harness the potential of migration as a driver for human development and global prosperity," DG Pope said. By choosing Dhaka as the report's launch site, IOM not only highlights the country's efforts in supporting vulnerable migrants and fostering pathways for regular migration but also recognizes Bangladesh's important role in shaping global migration discourse and policy, IOM said. As a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration Champion country, Bangladesh has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing migration issues and implementing policies that safeguard migrants' rights, it said. Read more: Global actors pledge to collaborate on transformation of Bangladesh agriculture This proactive engagement aligns with IOM's strategic objectives, making Bangladesh an ideal location to launch the 2024 World Migration Report. Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said as one of the GCM champion countries, Bangladesh will not only continue to act upon the pledges it has made for its domestic context but would also take up emerging issues and challenges pertaining to migration and development for informed deliberations at the international level. “The World Migration Report 2024 helps demystify the complexity of human mobility through evidence-based data and analysis,” Pope said at the launch. “In a world grappling with uncertainty, understanding migration dynamics is essential for informed decision-making and effective policy responses, and the World Migration Report advances this understanding by shedding light on longstanding trends and emerging challenges.” Of that 831 billion in remittances, 647 billion were sent by migrants to low and middle-income countries. These remittances can constitute a significant portion of those countries' GDPs, and globally, these remittances now surpass foreign direct investment in those countries. Highlighting key findings, the report reveals that while international migration continues to drive human development, challenges persist. Read more: UK Minister for Indo-Pacific arrives Tuesday on two-day visit With an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide, the number of displaced individuals due to conflict, violence, disaster, and other reasons has surged to the highest levels in modern-day records, reaching 117 million, underscoring the urgency of addressing displacement crises. Migration, an intrinsic part of human history, is often overshadowed by sensationalized narratives. However, the reality is far more nuanced than what captures headlines. Most migration is regular, safe, and regionally focused, directly linked to opportunities and livelihoods. Yet, misinformation and politicization have clouded public discourse, necessitating a clear and accurate portrayal of migration dynamics. IOM’s World Migration Report, with its innovative digital tools and comprehensive analysis, aims to help dispel myths, provide critical insights, and inspire meaningful action in addressing the challenges and opportunities of human mobility. This launch is part of IOM Director General’s first three-day visit to Bangladesh. Chief of IOM Mission in Bangladesh Abdusattor Esoev, former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, senior government officials and diplomats stationed in Dhaka were present at the report launching ceremony. Read more: UK Minister for Indo-Pacific in Dhaka to ‘strengthen’ economic, security, migration partnership with Bangladesh

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, arrived in Dhaka on a two-day visit on Tuesday morning in an effort to "strengthen modern economic, security and migration partnership" between Bangladesh and the UK. Director General (North America and acting in charge of West Europe & EU) Khandker Masudul Alam warmly welcomed her at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.  The British Minister of State is expected to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and meet with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Education Minister, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to Prime Minister, and attend other official engagements during the visit, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan will host a dinner in honour of the visiting British Minister of State at the state guesthouse Padma this evening (Tuesday). UK-Bangladesh cooperation is set to increase on priority areas including migration, economic reform and security, said the British High Commission in Dhaka in an announcement.  On her second visit to Bangladesh in her role as the Indo-Pacific Minister, she will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Discussions are expected to focus on UK-Bangladesh migration cooperation, trade and economic ties, and the UK’s support to the Rohingya refugee response. UK Minister for Indo-Pacific arrives Tuesday on two-day visit  The UK Minister will also meet business leaders, humanitarian actors, climate experts and, in meetings with civil society organisations and political leaders, she will recognise the importance of democracy and human rights as foundations for long-term growth and prosperity.  Minister Trevelyan will also announce new UK support to equip and empower youth and vulnerable groups in Bangladesh to engage in climate action. Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said, “I’m pleased to be back in Bangladesh with our new trade policy project marking an important step forward towards closer UK-Bangladesh collaboration, boosting our economic ties." She said they remain steadfast in their support for the Rohingyas in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and will provide £12 million of new humanitarian assistance, to increase access to clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection services for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said, “Delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to Bangladesh. The UK’s long-standing friendship with Bangladesh is cemented by the deep cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries." "The UK-Bangladesh partnership continues to go from strength to strength. From our joint work to tackle economic challenges, to our steadfast support for the Rohingya, and our partnership on climate change, we are determined to do more together.” Reaffirming the UK’s sustained support for the Rohingya people, Minister Trevelyan will announce £12 million (over 163 Crore Taka) of new UK humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh.  The new funding will provide clean water, healthcare, shelter and protection services. It will also support the development of the camp’s infrastructure to help protect it from natural disasters. Foreign Minister holds meetings with counterparts from Malaysia, Brunei, Azerbaijan This assistance will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Since 2017, the UK has provided £391 million ($487 million) to support the Rohingyas, and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh. Minister Trevelyan will also announce a new trade policy project with the Government of Bangladesh.  The UK will provide technical assistance to Bangladesh to strengthen trade policy capability and implement reforms.  The project will support Bangladesh tackle economic challenges and graduate successfully from Least Developed Country status in 2026.

 Key global actors gathered at Wageningen University, a global leader in agri-science located in the Netherlands, and pledged to collaborate on making Bangladesh agriculture risk-proof, resilient, profitable and sustainable for small farmers as well as for entrepreneurs.  They were participants at a roundtable on ‘Future of Bangladesh Agriculture’, convened by the Bangladesh Embassy.  Bangladesh Ambassador to the Netherlands, M Riaz Hamidullah, moderated and shared the context of the roundtable, especially how the global agri-tech community may tap potential opportunities in Bangladesh. Over 230 experts and researchers from different parts of the world joined the discussion. Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), University of Saskatchewan (Canada), partnered the event.  Six Presentations by leading experts focused on tackling the key challenges in Bangladesh: rapidly increasing crop yield; developing resilient supply chain; scaling up farm mechanization; meeting skill gaps through training.  FAO and World Bank HQs shared their perspectives as well. Agriculture Secretary, Wahida Akhter, reflected the Government's thinking on transforming agriculture in Bangladesh.  The Vice President of University of Saskatchewan, Canada, Baljit Singh, pledged to enhance the university's cooperation in agri-research in Bangladesh.  Minister, Dr Abdus Shahid, said that agriculture is the key priority in cooperation with the Netherlands, particularly to introduce some of the transformative technology, innovation and research capabilities to Bangladesh. He also said that “I am a farmer turned politician. For seven decades in my life, I have seen how millions of our small and marginal farmers battled out challenges in our delta.”  At the end, Wageningen University, Saskatchewan University and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) together launched a tripartite Arrangement for longer-term engagements to pilot impact-driven initiatives at the grassroots in Bangladesh. The Netherlands today is the 2nd largest agro-food exporter globally, annually exporting US$ 123 billion (2022). To date, they have conducted 7 Market Scans on agri-business potential in Bangladesh. This high-level roundtable comes as a result of continuing efforts of the Bangladesh Embassy. In 2022, the Bangladesh Embassy convened a first-ever such discussion, together with Wageningen University, on future opportunities in Bangladesh Agriculture future, especially to empower small and marginal farmers.

UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, will arrive in Bangladesh on a two-day visit on Tuesday morning in an effort to "strengthen modern economic, security and migration partnership" between Bangladesh and the UK. The UK-Bangladesh cooperation is set to increase on priority areas including migration, economic reform and security, said the British High Commission in Dhaka in an announcement on Monday.  On her second visit to Bangladesh in her role as Indo-Pacific minister, she will reaffirm the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During her visit to Dhaka, Minister Trevelyan will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister  Hasan Mahmud. Discussions are expected to focus on UK-Bangladesh migration cooperation, trade and economic ties, and the UK’s support to the Rohingya refugee response. The minister will also meet business leaders, humanitarian actors, climate experts and, in meetings with civil society organisations and political leaders, she will recognise the importance of democracy and human rights as foundations for long-term growth and prosperity.  Trevelyan will also announce new UK support to equip and empower youth and vulnerable groups in Bangladesh to engage in climate action. Minister Trevelyan, said, “I’m pleased to be back in Bangladesh with our new trade policy project marking an important step forward towards closer UK-Bangladesh collaboration, boosting our economic ties." She said they remain steadfast in their support for the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh, and will provide £12 million of new humanitarian assistance, to increase access to clean water, healthcare, shelter, and protection services for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said, “Delighted to welcome UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, to Bangladesh. The UK’s long-standing friendship with Bangladesh is cemented by the deep cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries." "The UK-Bangladesh partnership continues to go from strength to strength. From our joint work to tackle economic challenges, to our steadfast support for the Rohingya, and our partnership on climate change, we are determined to do more together.” Reaffirming the UK’s sustained support for the Rohingya people, Minister Trevelyan will announce £12 million (over 163 Crore Taka) of new UK humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh.  The new funding will provide clean water, healthcare, shelter and protection services. It will also support the development of the camp’s infrastructure to help protect it from natural disasters. Minister Trevelyan will also announce a new trade policy project with the Government of Bangladesh.  The UK will provide technical assistance to Bangladesh to strengthen trade policy capability and implement reforms.  The project will support Bangladesh tackle economic challenges and graduate successfully from Least Developed Country status in 2026. The new package of funding to support Rohingya refugees totals £12 million.  This assistance will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Since 2017, the UK has provided £391 million ($487 million) to support the Rohingya, and neighbouring host communities in Bangladesh.  

Turkish navy ship "TCG Kınalıada" (F-514) will carry out a port visit to Chattogram on May 7-9 as part of its regional visit in order to “increase the visibility of the Turkish Naval Forces” and improve bilateral relations with the countries to be visited. Turkish navy ship "TCG Kınalıada" (F-514) has been on an expedition to the Far East, visiting 24 ports in 20 countries during its four-and-a-half-month journey,  according to the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka.  "TCG Kınalıada" is scheduled to arrive at Chattogram Port at 10 am on Tuesday. Foreign Minister holds meetings with counterparts from Malaysia, Brunei, Azerbaijan "We are pleased to welcome the Turkish navy ship "TCG Kınalıada"in Bangladesh on the 50 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Bangladesh," said the Embassy in a message on Monday.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka said the Turkish Naval ship is coming as part of the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Türkiye.  Commissioned in 2019, the TCG Kinaliada is the last ADA Class navy ship which was built by the Istanbul Naval Shipyard in accordance with the MILGEM Program and integrated with Türkiye's first national surface to surface guided missile ATMACA developed by ROKETSAN. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka said the Turkish Naval ship is coming as part of the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Türkiye.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Malaysian Foreign Minister Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 15th OIC Summit in Banjul, Gambia on Saturday and discussed issues of mutual interest. They laid emphasis on strengthening the existing excellent relations between the two countries. Issues related to employment of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia were also discussed. The meeting also discussed Rohingya repatriation issue and greater cooperation in trade and investment, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. Brunei Darussalam Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin also held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud. During the meeting, Hasan called for further strengthening of trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam. In the meeting, the foreign ministers of both countries discussed various issues including cattle export from Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam, increase in trade and investment between the two countries, and the Rohingya crisis. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and emphasized on increasing communication between the business organizations of the two countries with the aim of increasing trade and investment with Bangladesh. The foreign ministers of both countries also discussed the possibility of importing energy from Azerbaijan.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha has called on Member States to redouble efforts to stop Israel’s genocide and war crimes against the Palestinian people. The 15th Islamic Summit Conference of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commenced its deliberation in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, in the presence of heads of states, and governments of the OIC member States, and high-level dignitaries from non-member states. The summit is being held under the theme: ‘Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development’, from May 4 to 5. The session was addressed by the chair of the 15th Islamic Summit, President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, who, as the Chairman of the OIC Summit, pledged to promote unity, solidarity, and sustainable development within the Islamic world. The president of Gambia said his approach will include prioritising initiatives that enhance economic cooperation, foster cultural exchange, and address pressing issues, such as poverty and access to education and healthcare. At the end of the two-day conference, the 15th Islamic Summit is expected to adopt a special resolution on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, a comprehensive communique, and the Banjul Declaration, according to a message received from OIC headquarters. Hissein Taha called on the OIC Member States to continue to mobilise international support for the recognition of the State of Palestine and help it attain full membership in the United Nations. He announced the establishment of a media observatory at the OIC General Secretariat to document and highlight, within the media, the numbers of martyrs, wounded, detainees, and various crimes of the Israeli occupation. The OIC is also concurrently working towards activating the Legal Observatory to document Israeli crimes, in line with the decision of the recent Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh. Furthermore, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the OIC's commitment to addressing pressing political and humanitarian challenges facing the OIC Member States. He emphasised that the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir remains a priority for the OIC. The 15th Islamic summit is being held in light of the dangerous and unprecedented developments taking place in the Palestinian cause, especially the crimes of the brutal Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. The secretary-general emphasised that the Palestinian cause remains the OIC’s central issue and urged the member states to redouble efforts to mobilize the responsibility of the international community toward stopping the aggression and genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif. On Afghanistan, the OIC secretary-general noted that the organisation continued its engagement within the framework of its humanitarian approach and constructive dialogue with the de facto authority in Afghanistan. He urged the member states to contribute generously to the OIC humanitarian efforts, particularly in Afghanistan, through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF) under the supervision and management of the Islamic Development Bank. Recognizing the importance of dialogue and reconciliation, The Secretary-General emphasized the OIC's support for conflict resolution in Member States such as Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and the Sahel region. The secretary-general stressed that OIC continues to support the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan over its entire territory as well as for the unity, sovereignty, and security of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in addition to its solidarity with Turkish Cypriot Muslims, alongside cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Hissein Taha, salutes the vanguard role played by The Gambia, in defending the Cause of the Rohingya Muslim community before the International Court of Justice and calls on Member States to contribute to the financial costs required for this matter, which has recorded significant achievements. He also reiterates deep gratitude to Bangladesh and other member states for welcoming the Rohingya refugees. In the field of humanitarian action, the secretary-general highlighted that the  General Secretariat and the Saudi Arabia are currently working to coordinate the arrangements for organising the Donors Conference for the Sahel region and the Lake Chad Basin for the mobilization of adequate resources to support refugees and displaced people. The 15th Islamic Summit Conference was also addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, chair of the previous 14th Summit H. H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the President of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB), the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Special Envoy of the President of China.