B Mirror Report: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman conducted a series of bilateral meetings with key counterparts on the sidelines of the OIC Executive Meeting on Palestine in Jeddah, reaffirming the country’s support for Palestine and strengthening diplomatic ties.

Dr Rahman met with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed A. Elkhreiji, Turkey’s Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklikaya, Palestine’s Foreign Minister Dr Varsen Ohanes Vartan Aghabekian, and Gambia’s Foreign Minister Sering Modou Njie, who chaired the Executive Meeting.

During the talks, leaders congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the electoral victory of his party and expressed confidence in Bangladesh’s path toward political stability and accelerated development. They also praised Bangladesh’s steadfast backing of the Palestinian cause and voiced support for its candidacy for the presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In discussions with Pakistan, Dar recalled his previous meeting with the late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and conveyed that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif looks forward to visiting Dhaka to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, expressing hopes for stronger bilateral relations.

Talks with Turkey highlighted historic ties and cooperation across multiple sectors. Dr Rahman thanked Turkey for its continued support for Rohingyas, and both sides agreed to work together to resolve the crisis. An invitation was handed to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to visit Bangladesh after Ramadan.

The Saudi Vice Foreign Minister expressed hope for a visit from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Riyadh and discussed investment opportunities under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which Dr Rahman welcomed, noting potential for Bangladeshi-Saudi collaboration.

With the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unwavering support for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, while the minister pledged Arab-Islamic support for Bangladesh’s UNGA presidency bid.

In his meeting with Gambian Foreign Minister Njie, Dr Rahman thanked Gambia for backing the Rohingya cause, including its case at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar. Both countries agreed to organise an event on the Rohingya issue during the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Baghdad. Njie assured support from African nations for Bangladesh’s UNGA candidature.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabi accompanied the Foreign Minister during the series of meetings.