"No-one can say that Islam and democracy are not compatible," said MM Rezaul Karim, a member of the Bangladeshi delegation that took part in the 'Congress of Democrats from the Islamic World' held in Turkey from April 12 to 14.

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), a co-sponsor of the international conference, organised the discussion at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel where the delegates shared their experiences.

The congress which brought together government officials, parliamentarians, politicians from 17 Muslim-majority countries offered a platform for democratic governance in the Islamic world.

The platform sought to put an end to the debate over the compatibility of democratic principles and Islam, and design state structures in accordance with Islamic tenets and democratic principles.

Rezaul Karim said the participants at the congress held a consensus that the issue "should not be whether Islam is compatible with democracy but whether democracy is compatible with Islam."