Bangladesh seeks OIC support for Gambia's Rohingya case

Bangladesh on Thursday called on Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) members to support the legal fund for The Gambia's Rohingya case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and provide lifesaving aid until the displaced people can return home.

"We also seek support for the legal fund for Gambia's ICJ proceedings and for lifesaving humanitarian assistance until their return," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir told the annual coordination meeting of OIC foreign ministers at UN headquarters in New York, according to a message received here.

Humaiun said Bangladesh continued to shelter more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas and urged OIC members to work towards their early return.

Addressing wider priorities for the organisation, he called for stronger cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and renewable energy.

Intra-OIC trade accounted for only 20% of members' total trade in 2024, below the 25% target, he said.

Humaiun also urged cooperation on artificial intelligence, innovation and technology transfer to help bridge the digital divide.

Bangladesh, he said, was seeking a 15 to 20% budget increase for the Islamic University of Technology, where around 60% of students receive international scholarships.

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He backed the proposed OIC Programme of Action for 2026-2035, calling for concrete targets on food security, digital transformation, health, science and cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank.

The state minister expressed support for a stronger role for the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia in promoting human rights, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

He also reaffirmed Bangladesh's support for an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Humaiun commended Turkiye's leadership as OIC chair and welcomed Iraq as the incoming chair.