Riyadh backs Dhaka's OIC bid

Saudi Arabia yesterday threw its weight behind Bangladesh's candidature for the post of secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz extended the support when Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's special envoy and Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Kandaker Mosharraf Hossain called on him at Al Salam Palace here yesterday afternoon.

During the meeting, the minister handed over a letter and conveyed greetings of the prime minister to King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz.

Dr Mosharraf highlighted the Islamic cultural heritage of Bangladesh and its commitment to work closely with OIC to promote the cause of Islamic Ummah and to protect its interest.

He explained the background of Bangladesh's candidature for the post of OIC secretary general and said in the past Bangladesh withdrew its candidature for the post more than once honouring the advice of some brotherly member countries and also for the sake of maintaining consensus and unity of the Muslim Ummah on the matter.

He sought support and patronage of Saudi Arabia for the candidature of Bangladesh.

The Crown Prince expressed full support of Saudi Arabia to the candidature of Bangladesh for the post of OIC secretary general.