Rohingya News Agency‏ ‏‎–(The Daily Star):‎ OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani arrives in Dhaka today on a four-day official visit with an aim to deepen cooperation existing between Bangladesh and the organisation.

This will be Madani's first visit to Bangladesh after taking office as the tenth secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on January 1 this year.
Officials consider this visit important as Bangladesh is among the first few countries where Madani has decided to visit after taking over the responsibilities of the General Secretariat, OIC.

Madani, a former minister of Saudi Arabia, will lead a five-member delegation during his visit.
He is expected to call on President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, apart from visiting some institutions.
According to a press release of the foreign ministry, the OIC secretary general will hold meetings with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at their offices tomorrow.

The Rohingya refugee issue might come up for discussion during his talks with the Bangladeshi leaders. Dhaka is expected to ask the OIC secretary general to take effective steps to resolve the long standing issue, official sources said.

Bangladesh will try to convince Madani to resolve the labour issues in Saudi Arabia, and request him to use his office in allowing Bangladeshi workers to the middle-eastern countries.
Official sources said the issues of the Muslim world that is facing political, socio-economic, cultural and scientific challenges, and the importance of its unity, peace, security and development will also come up for discussion.
Dhaka will give emphasis on OIC's strong role regarding some major issues, including establishing the values of moderation and tolerance, combating extremism, violence and terrorism, countering Islamophobia, achieving solidarity and cooperation among member states, conflict prevention, the question of Palestine, the rights of Muslim minorities and communities.

The Bangladeshi leaders will also lay importance on enhancing economic cooperation, intra-OIC trade and alleviating poverty in OIC member states.
The OIC is the second largest international organisation that groups together 57 Muslim-majority countries spreading over four continents.

Founded in 1969, its main objective is to protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among people across the world.