Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Executive Meeting on Palestine in Jeddah, reaffirming Bangladesh’s position on Palestine and stepping up diplomatic engagement.
He met Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Arabia Vice Foreign Minister Waleed A Elkhreiji, Türkiye Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya, Palestine Foreign Minister Varsen Ohanes Vartan Aghabekian and Gambia Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie, who chaired the executive meeting.
The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s electoral victory and his assumption of office, expressing confidence in political stability and faster development under his leadership.
They praised Bangladesh’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause and expressed backing for its candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the minister recalled his meeting last year with late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif looks forward to visiting Bangladesh to greet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
He voiced hope for stronger bilateral ties under the new government in Dhaka.
In discussions with Türkiye Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya, both sides highlighted historic ties and agreed to widen cooperation in multiple sectors.
Khalilur Rahman thanked Türkiye for continued support for the Rohingya people, and both sides agreed to work towards an early resolution of the crisis.
He also handed over an invitation letter to Türkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to visit Bangladesh after Ramadan.
Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed A Elkhreiji expressed hope that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would visit the Kingdom soon and invited Khalilur Rahman to Riyadh.
He said Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 presents significant opportunities for Bangladesh, while the minister highlighted prospects for Saudi investment in Bangladesh.
Both sides agreed to work jointly to realise those opportunities, and Elkhreiji sought Bangladesh’s support for reform initiatives aimed at strengthening the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretariat.
In talks with Palestine Foreign Minister Varsen Ohanes Vartan Aghabekian, Khalilur Rahman reiterated Bangladesh’s unwavering support for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Palestinian minister thanked Bangladesh for its consistent support and said the Arab-Islamic bloc would back its bid for the United Nations General Assembly presidency.
Meeting Gambia Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie, Khalilur Rahman thanked Gambia for supporting the Rohingya cause, including its case at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar over alleged genocide.
Both sides agreed to organise an event on the Rohingya issue during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad in April.
Njie assured support from African countries for Bangladesh’s United Nations General Assembly candidature.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabi was present at the meetings.
