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Take concrete steps to combat terrorism

PM urges OIC leaders

BSS, Makkah
Prime Minister (PM) Khaleda Zia on Wednesday urged the OIC member countries to reaffirm their faith in the solidarity and display it in concrete action by adopting a common stand to overcome the common threats faced by the Muslim Ummah.
Addressing the third Extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) at the Al-Safa Palace, the PM called upon all OIC countries to take
concrete measures to combat terrorism by sending strong signals to the perpetrators of such despicable acts so that they find no shelter in any Muslim country.
In her speech, she proposed several recommendations including establishment of a concessional fund for poverty alleviation, to fund a programme of "Capacity Building for Poverty Alleviation in the least developed and low-income member states of OIC".
Seeking strong support from all
OIC member countries to implement this programme, the PM called for taking up immediate actions in three areas of capacity building, poverty alleviation and disaster relief to help fellow Muslims strengthen unity and solidarity.
Referring to various external threats and negative campaigns
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being faced by the Muslim Ummah and attempts to victimise the Muslims all over the world, the PM laid utmost importance on projecting the unity and solidarity of the Muslim countries and strengthening bonds of brotherhood.
During her speech, Khaleda Zia focussed on a number of issues including strengthening of the OIC secretariat, promotion of intra-OIC trade and investment, combating terrorism, fighting against Islam-phobia and organising inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue.
She suggested establishment of a multi-lingual OIC electronic media to fight against Islam-phobia and project the trueimage of Islam.
On the proposals regarding funding mechanisms for capacity building for poverty alleviation in the least developed countries and low-income member states, the prime minister suggested setting up of a concessional fund with sizeable resources for poverty alleviation, establishment of an "OIC Emergency Fund" and establishment of an International Zakat Fund.
Stressing cooperation among the Muslim countries in all fields, Khaleda Zia said the focus would have to be on economic matters.
She suggested a framework agreement to establish a preferential trade system among the OIC member states and called upon all to sign and ratify urgently the existing agreements aimed at promoting trade and investment.
"Of particular importance is promotion of intra-OIC trade and investment," she said adding, "We believe that the target of intra-OIC trade reaching 20 per cent of the total trade of OIC countries by 2015 is achievable given our sincere efforts."
She said the establishment of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation and the wider use of the Islamic Corporation for Insurance and Export Credit will contribute to the expansion of intra-OIC trade.
She suggested 'a meaningful push forward' in implementing the 'OIC Plan of Action to Strengthen Economic and Commercial Cooperation among OIC member states'.
Referring to the common concern of combating terrorism, the PM said, "At this critical juncture of history, we are all experiencing unprecedented incidents of terrorism affecting our dailylives."
In the war on terrorism, Muslim individuals and states have become unfortunate targets and efforts are being made to stigmatise the Muslims and the Muslim countries, she added.
"Attempts are being made to equate our great religion Islam directly or indirectly with terrorism. Muslims in general, all over the world, are victimised because of acts of terrorism by a handful of terrorists claiming to be Muslims or acting in the name of Islam," she continued.
She categorically stated that a terrorist must be identified as a terrorist only, irrespective of his or her colour, creed or religion. "We condemn terrorism as such and in all its forms of manifestations," she said and urged the OIC to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism in the name of Islam and to take concrete measures in this regard.
"The alarming phenomenon of Islam-phobia is increasing, in effect, racism and discrimination against Muslims all over the world. We think coinage of terms such as Muslim or Islamic terrorists, militants or fundamentalists' in the media have contributed to the formation of an anti-Muslim feeling among the people," she said.
A significant portion of the nonMuslim population tends to believe in the venomous propaganda against the Muslims that are carried by certain
dominant sections of the print and electronic media, only aggravating the situation. This, in fact, indirectly helps the handful of terrorists who exploit the sentiments of the common Muslims, she added.
Khaleda Zia said Bangladesh strongly supports and has participated in all moves to bring about interreligious, inter-cultural and intercivilisation dialogue and cooperation. "We sincerely believe that these can promote mutual understanding, respect and tolerance among religions, cultures and peoples," she said adding a dialogue among civilisations should be based on mutual respect, dignity and reciprocity.
The prime minister drew the attention of the Muslim world towards the advancement of science and technology for the welfare of the Ummah and said, "The more we educate ourselves the stronger we become."
"Once the Muslim Ummah were at the zenith of scientific and technological advancement, our falling behind in this has contributed to the marginalization of the Muslim countries, particularly in the key areas of development," she added.
Khaleda Zia stressed the need for nurturing the human resources with intellectual potentials in OIC member countries and establishment of new centres of excellence and allocating adequate resources to those institutions. She sought more supports from the Muslim countries in a substantive manner for the OIC-sponsored Islamic University of Technologyin Gazipur.
The Islamic University of Technology is the realisation of the vision of Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman and the Muslim Ummah can indeed be proud of this institution for its remarkable progress in academic excellence and human resource development, she said.
Referring to the Palestine issue, the prime minister said the Muslim Ummah should continue to speak in one voice as we have always done. "We must maintain a principled stand for a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Arab Peace Plan and the Road Map," she added.
About strengthening of the OIC she said the immediate task to project the unity and solidarity of the Ummah will be to add vigour and substance to the existing institutions.
"We need to approach the OIC, the apex institution of our solidarity, in a more pro-active manner. This will enable the OIC to play a more effective role in the international system," she said.
She also called for renewing commitment by signing and ratifying all OIC agreements and implementing all Plans ofAction taken up by OIC.
The PM said over the centuries the Muslim world has faced various challenges and on each occasion it came out recharged, strong in its faith and ever vigorous in holding the banner of Islam high.
She ended her speech in a positive note saying, "The challenge that we face today may seem to be allengulfing. But with the spirit of Islam properly infusedin us all, we can surely tackle it to secure our position in the global community."