(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  The Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) earlier this year declared picking of Dhaka for this prestigious honor because of its rich Islamic heritage. The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including ministers, senior officials, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Dhaka, as well as intellectuals and cultural figures.

In her speech, Sheikh Hasina has called upon the Muslim countries to intensify links between them and work together for world peace and justice. "I make this call from one of the unique places of Islamic cultures, Dhaka, let\'s come forward against any kind of wrongdoings in the name of Islam. We need to intensify the communications between the Muslim countries," she said while addressing the gathering at Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium. "We believe that there is no place of terrorism and destructive activities in Islam," she said while speaking at the inauguration of year-long celebration of the announcement of Dhaka as Capital of Islamic Culture in Asia for 2012 by ISESCO of OIC.

Sheikh Hasina extended her gratitude to the OIC member countries for honoring Dhaka. "We urge the Muslim world to work together and call for unity, world peace and a society based on justice." Mentioning that Muslims once had ruled the world through power of knowledge of science and technology, she urged the Muslim world to reincarnate that tradition. "This is only possible when the Muslim world having diverse cultures and traditions will stand under one confluence." She said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, even during his short tenure, had embarked upon massive reconstruction works as well as various welfare programs for the Muslim Ummah and established good relations with the Muslim countries

Addressing the opening ceremony, Dr Abdulaziz Altwaijri, director general of ISESCO, called for consolidating the cultural unity of the Muslim Ummah. He said that ISESCO decided to celebrate Dhaka as the Asian Region’s Islamic Culture Capital for 2012, in recognition of its status as an ancient city with an outstanding contribution to cultural development and human civilization. He also underlined that the celebration schedule featured a variety of activities covering the areas of education, culture and science, which would be executed in association with Bangladesh Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs throughout 2012. The activities include paying tribute to prominent figures of Islamic thought in Bangladesh, promoting cultural tourism and cultural enterprises, organizing open days of Islamic cultural heritage, strengthening the role of civil society in implementing ISESCO’s Strategy for Cultural Takaful in the Islamic World, and rewarding creative students, professors, artists and craftsmen.

He underscored the importance of the Programme of Islamic Culture Capitals, which ISESCO implements annually in three culture capitals of the Member States to highlight the rich diversity of Islamic culture, consolidate the cultural unity of the Muslim Ummah, and promote Islamic cities, together with their prominent figures, landmarks, cultural institutions, civilization features, heritage and history, in such a way as to ensure continuity of their radiance. He also emphasized that the objective of this programme is to throw further light on these cities’ contribution to the universal civilization and their role in promoting culture, literature, arts, science and knowledge throughout history, and present to the entire world the true image of the Islamic civilization, with its human message, while highlighting the core elements of the lofty human values embedded in this multi-layered civilization.

He also underlined that the celebration schedule featured a variety of activities covering the areas of education, culture and science, which would be executed in association with Bangladesh Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs throughout 2012. In this vein, he highlighted that the celebration activities would include paying tribute to prominent figures of Islamic thought in Bangladesh, promoting cultural tourism and cultural enterprises, organizing open days of Islamic cultural heritage, strengthening the role of civil society in implementing ISESCO’s Strategy for Cultural Takaful in the Islamic World, (developed by ISESCO and adopted by the Fifth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers)), and rewarding creative students, professors, artists and craftsmen.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina received Dr. Abdulaziz Altwaijri. During the meeting, the director general made a review of ISESCO’s various programs and activities, particularly those scheduled as part of the celebration of Dhaka’s selection as cultural capital. He awarded ISESCO Medal to Hasina, in recognition of her country’s contribution to the promotion of joint Islamic action. Altwaijri also met Nurul Islam Nahid, minister of Education and Muhammad Qamrul Islam, Minister of Religious Affairs.

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