PM Hasina calls on OIC countries to work unitedly for peace in Gaza

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should work in unison towards establishing peace in Gaza.

She made the remark when Qatar Ambassador to Bangladesh Seraya Ali Mahdi Saeed Al-Qahtani paid her a courtesy call at her official residence, Ganabhaban.

During the meeting, they discussed the Gaza issue, said PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim while briefing reporters.

The Qatar envoy handed an invitation letter to Sheikh Hasina to attend the Eighth Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Dimdex) to be held on March 4-6, 2024 in Qatar.

Upon receiving the invitation, the prime minister said if she wins the upcoming national election to be held on January 7, she will join the event.

The exhibition takes place every two years under the patronage of Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

About the Gaza issue, Seraya Ali Mahdi Saeed said this year his country did not celebrate its national day on December 18 and sent the celebration budget amounting to $50 million to the people of Gaza.

In this context, the prime minister said Bangladesh also sent relief items, including dry foods and clothes, for the Palestinians.

Noting that the Palestinian physicians who graduated from Bangladesh were also imparted security training in Bangladesh, she said the doctors are now working in hospitals there in Palestine.

The Qatar ambassador said the world can know about the situation in Gaza as the Qatar-based Al Jazeera media network is broadcasting news on the issue.

The Bangladesh premier said she expects the Qatar emir will Bangladesh in 2024.  “We look forward to welcoming his highness the emir at the earliest,” she said.

Notably, the emir of Qatar accepted an invitation to visit Bangladesh from the president in May 2020.

The prime minister thanked Qatar authorities for their initiatives on the Gaza issue.

Source: UNB