During his official visit to Morocco, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain held a high-level meeting with Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Dr Salim M. AlMalik at the organisation’s headquarters in Rabat on Tuesday, reports BSS.
ICESCO is an intergovernmental body of 53 Muslim-majority countries.
In the meeting, Adviser Asif Mahmud praised ICESCO’s ongoing initiatives under Dr AlMalik’s leadership in the fields of education, science, innovation, environment, health, and culture across the Muslim world, according to a message received.
The Adviser highlighted that the Government of Bangladesh places the highest priority on youth in its development agenda.
He shared details of several national projects aimed at enhancing youth skills and capacity, and sought ICESCO’s active collaboration in these efforts.
Asif Mahmud specifically proposed for establishing an “Islamic Culture and Language Centre” in Bangladesh under ICESCO’s support to expand public knowledge and research opportunities on Islamic culture and languages.
Additionally, he requested for ICESCO’s assistance in replicating its Smart Classroom projects, already operational in other member states, in the educational institutions in Bangladesh.
In response, Dr Salim M AlMalik highly praised the potential and capabilities of Bangladesh’s youth.
He acknowledged Bangladesh’s consistent financial contribution as a founding member state, which has significantly helped sustain ICESCO’s programmes.
Dr Salim informed the Bangladesh adviser about ICESCO’s current initiatives in education, health, and other key sectors, and reaffirmed ICESCO’s eagerness to work with Bangladesh in any format.
He also expressed interest in grooming talented Bangladeshi youth to join ICESCO’s educational and research activities on the international stage.
Dr AlMalik commended Bangladesh’s achievements in tackling climate change and remarked that the country’s experience is exemplary for the Muslim world.
He invited Bangladeshi climate experts to participate in ICESCO’s global initiatives and expressed interest in appointing a qualified Bangladeshi expert in a high-level position of the organisation.
Dr Salim also requested for Bangladesh’s cooperation in expanding Grameen Bank’s microcredit model, pioneered by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, to ICESCO-affiliated countries in Africa.
Both sides expressed optimism about strengthening bilateral cooperation in the future.
Following the meeting, the adviser visited the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islamic Civilization located at ICESCO headquarters.
During the visit, he noted that Bangladesh’s heritage and Islamic cultural elements could be featured in future exhibitions at the museum and expressed hope that a similar museum could one day be established in Bangladesh.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
