Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who leaves for Pakistan today to attend the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), yesterday said Bangladesh would press for reducing the economic disparity between the rich and poor member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Conferences (OIC), apart from important political issues.

Talking to reporters at the Foreign Ministry, he said although OIC usually discusses political issues, it should also focus on economic development of the member-states.

"A group of eminent personalities could be formed to make recommendation for cooperation to increase trade and economic development of the poor member-states."

The advisor spoke of Dhaka's proposition that development projects in poverty alleviation, health and education could be undertaken in poor countries with the assistance of the Islamic Development Bank, which is now showing interest in such activities.

Dhaka will also renew support to the establishment of Islamic Common Market to increase trade among the forum's member-countries.

The adviser said issues of Palestine and Iraq would be discussed at the three-day conference in the Pakistan capital.

In reply to a question, he said the longstanding Palestine problem could be resolved with establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. If the core issue of Palestine is resolved, the other issues in the Middle East could be settled as well, he observed.

On Iraq, Chowdhury, who had long served as Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the Iraqi people should be allowed to find on their own the solution of their problems. He avoided a reply whether Dhaka wants pullout of the multinational forces from the war-ravaged Iraq.

On the sidelines of the ICFM, the foreign adviser will meet his counterparts from OIC countries, including the host Pakistan.

The adviser of the caretaker government said he would discuss with his Pakistani counterpart how to reactivate the Foreign Office Consultation to discuss bilateral issues between Dhaka and Islamabad.

There had not been any such consultation since 2005.

The adviser will return home on May 20.