Dhaka seeks OIC support to boost Halal certification activities

Dhaka, Sept 13 - Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to support Bangladesh in strengthening its halal certification activities.

He made the request  during a meeting with officials at the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) Centre in Islamabad on Thursday (Sept 11), following a visit to the facility, according to a handout issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday.

Dr Hossain said the Islamic Foundation Bangladesh has been working on halal certification and has sought assistance from relevant authorities in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

He proposed enhancing the capacity of Bangladeshi halal certification personnel under COMSTECH’s technical support, supervised by the OIC.

The adviser also welcomed COMSTECH’s initiative to establish a halal institute in Uganda.

Appreciating COMSTECH’s role in promoting science, technology, artificial intelligence, environment, climate change and poverty reduction in the Muslim world, Dr Hossain thanked the organisation for granting 100 scholarships at the University of Lahore for Bangladeshi students.

He said such opportunities are crucial for madrasa students grounded in the Quran and Hadith, enabling them to contribute to medicine, engineering and technology sectors.

Stressing the need for unity within the Muslim Ummah, Dr Hossain said progress requires solidarity under the banner of Islam, guided by the Quran and Hadith. “Without unity amid diversity, advancement is impossible,” he added.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Md Iqbal Hossain Khan, Dr Hossain’s Private Secretary Sadeq Ahmed, Press Counsellor Mohammad Tayyeb Ali, and COMSTECH’s Coordinator General, among others, attended the meeting. - UNB