BM Desk: 

First Lady of Bangladesh, Rebeka Sultana, led a 7-member delegation from Bangladesh to the summit of the spouses of heads of states and governments, titled ‘United for Peace in Palestine,’ held in Istanbul on wednesday.

During her remarks, the First Lady of Bangladesh briefed the summit about the initiatives taken by the Bangladesh Government on the domestic and international fronts. This included the adoption of a general resolution in the Bangladesh National Parliament, demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza war, efforts in the UNSC, the UNGA, the OIC Conference in Jeddah, and the latest OIC Summit in Riyadh. 

She highlighted repeated calls by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop violence and atrocities in Palestine.

Chaired by Emine Erdogan, the summit saw the participation of 16 delegates, led by spouses of the heads of states/governments from Muslim countries, including Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Malaysia, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Scotland, and others. Following extensive discussions, the summit adopted a Joint Declaration.

Expressing deep concerns over the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine, including the deaths of over 11,000 civilians, mostly children and women in Occupied Gaza and the West Bank, the summit emphasized the urgent need to establish a ceasefire and withdraw the blockade and embargo imposed on Gaza, in gross violations of international laws, including human rights accords.