Diplomatic Correspondent

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today demanded immediate cessation of the conflict in Palestine, ensuring humanitarian access and holding Israel accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. "Accountability and punishment are mandatory so that once for all the ongoing conflict in Gaza ends and people can start living peacefully in their own land," he said while speaking at the 15th Islamic Summit Conference at Banjul in the Gambia, a foreign ministry's press release said here.

The foreign minister said it is time for the leaderships' total commitment and goodwill to end the crisis and to establish justice as desired by the Muslim Ummah. "We, the members of the OIC, should be part of a multi-tracked international engagement to end the Gaza crisis," he said.

Hasan said all should support the ICJ case submitted by South Africa as Bangladesh along with a few other countries has requested International Criminal Court for an investigation of 'the situation in the State of Palestine'. "Bangladesh's participation and engagements in the OIC has always been guided by
the principles of unity, peace, prosperity and development, first outlined by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman whose vision included a revival of the Muslim world," he said.

he Bangladesh foreign minister underlined the need for finding the solution to the Rohingya crisis through international intervention and implementation of judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). He said the Rohingya crisis has entered its 7th year and Bangladesh is hosting the largest refugee camp in the world while it is the duty for all to assist in fulfilling the desire of these homeless people to return to their own country.

"As solution through the court is a long-term issue, we must keep the momentum going," he said.  Hasan appreciated the voluntary contribution and pledge of some countries and urge all Member States to commit to contribute generously to the Gambian case against Myanmar with the ICJ.