<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will attend the 15th session of the OIC Islamic Summit in Banjul, The Gambia.</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers will start from May 2, which will be led by the Bangladesh foreign minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasan will be travelling to Gambia today by wrapping up his Europe visit, said an official.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold the 15th annual Islamic Summit Conference on May 4-5 in the Gambian capital, Banjul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A variety of issues will be addressed, including the Palestinian question, youth, women, family, Islamophobia, climate change, and Muslim minorities in non-member states, among others.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The leaders of OIC member states will discuss the political issues of the Islamic world, most notably the Palestinian cause, and economic, humanitarian, social and cultural issues, youth, women, family, science and technology, information, Muslim communities and minorities in non- OIC member states, Islamophobia, hate speech, climate change, food security, and legal matters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The OIC secretary-general will present a report at the summit reviewing the most prominent activities, programmes, and projects undertaken by the organisation since the previous session of the Islamic Summit Conference.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 15th conference will issue a final communique that includes the organisation's positions on the issues submitted to the summit, a resolution on Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Banjul Declaration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The preparatory meetings of the 15th session of the OIC Islamic Summit started in Banjul, The Gambia, on Tuesday, under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The two-day-long senior officials meeting is being led by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia & Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the OIC, Javed Patwary, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria and Non-Resident High Commissioner of Bangladesh to The Gambia, Masudur Rahman, Director General (International Organizations), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wahida Ahmed, are participating at the senior officials meeting.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The senior officials meeting is finalizing the “Draft Resolution on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif”, “Draft Final Communique”, and “Banjul Draft Declaration” to be adopted by the preparatory meeting of the Foreign Ministers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The discussions are dominated by issues related to Palestine in view of the recent atrocities in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The senior officials meeting will also discuss economic, humanitarian, social, cultural, and issues concerning women and youth that have an impact on the Muslim Ummah. - UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>