WITH high hopes and expectancy filling the air, partly spurred on by the White House, but in a large part building up since his assumption of office on a campaign mantra for change, US President Barack Obama delivered a major policy speech from the Cairo University podium calling for 'a new beginning' between the I United States and the Muslim world.

He has sought the cooperation of the Muslim world to work together to fight violent extremism instead of courting its alienation which has been die handiwork of his predecessor George W Bush in the aftermath of terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the US-led invasion of Iraq. Whedier it has fitted the tall task of a bill to initiate the process of reframing relations with the Muslim world turned upside down since, only time will tell, hopefully in the near future rather than a distant one.

Yet, his speech so full of forward-looking reflections on what should be the rules of engagement between die USA and the Muslim world, including on the topic of gender equality dirough spread of education and offer of more leadership choices to women signalled a new, fresh thinking, a new approach on the part of the American leadership. ! That he accepts the responsibility as the President of the United States to 'fight against the negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear' is something that would need many adherents in the Western world including within America itself. On a slightiy different plane, even though Bangladesh is among a handful of Muslim majority countries with women in top leadership, we have a long way to go in according full gender equality of women.

To his allusion to die colonial times and the cold war phase in which Muslim majority countries were treated 'as proxies disregarding their aspirations', we have to say that in the extended neo-colonial era too, the same tendencies were demonstrated in different guises and forms.

On the rather intractable Middle East problem, he fell short of embarking on a new policy by issuing an even-handed call to the Jewish state and the 1 Palestinians to live up to their international obligations. He needs to travel the extra mile there.

Of particular relevance is statement based on his understanding of the Quran: 'Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism, it is an important part of promoting peace' and that actions of violent extremist Muslims are 'irreconcilable with ' the rights of human beings'.

It is stating the obvious that suspicion and discord between the West and the Islamic world have evolved over decades and would therefore take sincere and determined efforts to be rolled back. But we believe Obama has offered up a new opportunity to remove the hiatus. For our part, we should seize it, as Obama does his part in matching words with deeds.