Bangladesh has called upon member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to attach utmost importance to the issue of the job retention of migrant workers so that sudden shocks of unemployment can be cushioned and social balance preserved.
Bangladesh has further recommended engaging humanitarian organizations in member states in the provision of sufficient financial assistance and medical support to Muslim migrant workers from least developed countries (LDC) and developing countries until the impact of the epidemic is over and also to advocate for their job retention to ensure their healthy livelihood.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the appeals during a virtual extraordinary meeting of the OIC executive committee at the level of foreign ministers on Wednesday.
Bangladesh is a member of the executive committee alongside Turkey, Saudi Arabia, The Gambia, the United Arab Emirates and Niger.
He also proposed the establishment of an OIC Covid-19 response and recovery fund based on voluntary contributions by member states, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The foreign minister called for collective efforts in the light of the the spirit of Islam and brotherhood of the Muslim ummah in combating this pandemic.
He urged the OIC Secretariat and its organs to connect with research organizations in the field of medical sciences and medical equipment and also to incorporate the business bodies of the member states to facilitate bulk production of the required medical items.
At the meeting, the executive committee members committed to strengthen the coordination of national, regional and international efforts to draw up containment strategies and to enhance the capacity of health and medical personnel to stem the spread of Covid-19 in member states.
The committee urged the parties in conflict areas to declare a ceasefire, end the violence and allow medical and food assistance to reach the affected. It also appealed to the humanitarian actors to provide food aid and identify safe pathways for helping the countries concerned.
The committee made an urgent appeal to international financial institutions and bilateral, regional and international partners, especially the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to consider writing off the debts for LDCs and make financial assistance, concessional loans and basic support accessible to OIC member states to combat Covid-19 and its aftermath.
