OIC delegation visits Bangladesh, evaluates conditions in Rohingya

A delegation from the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) has disclosed plan to visit Bangladesh between February 27 and March 2, 2021.

According to the delegation, the visit is aimed at taking stock of the conditions of the Rohingya refugees.

During the visit, the delegation will hold a series of consultations with Bangladeshi officials on ways and means to support bilateral cooperation and coordinate on the issue of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The visit is considered necessary as OIC is providing shelter to one million refugees of the distressed Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar

It reflects the OIC’s keenness to follow up the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC member countries. The OIC follows with deep concern the situation of the Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar following the developments in the country.

In his statement before the High-level Segment of the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held on 23 February 2021, the OIC Secretary-General, Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, reaffirmed the OIC’s principled position in support for the legitimate rights of the Muslim Rohingya community and its call for ensuring its safety and security and for recognizing its basic rights, including the right to citizenship.

He also underscored the need “to hold the perpetrators of gross violations against the Rohingya accountable for their acts.”

“It is worth noting that the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) had welcomed in a resolution adopted at its 47th session held last November in Niamey, Niger, the decision made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on 23 January 2020 at the case filed against the Republic of Myanmar, whereby the ICJ imposed provisional measures to prevent further acts of genocide against the Rohingya in Myanmar,” he said.

The OIC General Secretariat calls again on the international community to attach greater attention to the Rohingya Muslims in these special circumstances.