Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, in the presence of Her Excellency Mrs. Sadia Faizunnesa, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of Morocco. The two parties discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of youth empowerment and cultural development.

At the outset of the meeting, which took place on Tuesday 1 July 2025, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik expressed his satisfaction with the close cooperation between ICESCO and Bangladesh, highlighting the initiatives and projects implemented in several areas, foremost among them: organizing workshops to develop competencies in the field of genomics; implementing a program for evaluating technological innovations aimed at strengthening the health sector in Bangladesh; organizing training programs on Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD); in addition to organizing the “Green and Clean School” competition, which aims to transform schools into centers for sustainability.

The Director-General of ICESCO also emphasized the Organization’s interest in supporting its Member States’ efforts in developing education, science, and culture, building the capacities of youth and women, and training them in leadership for peace and security. Dr. AlMalik also referred to the Organization’s work in preserving and safeguarding heritage, by registering it on the ICESCO Islamic World Heritage List, along with the attention ICESCO gives to investing in artificial intelligence and modern technologies to advance efforts toward achieving sustainable development.

Furthermore, the meeting saw discussions on future areas of cooperation, especially with regard to organizing joint activities, mutual participation in each other’s events, and training youth from Bangladesh at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat.

For his part, Mr. Shojib Bhuiyan affirmed his country’s keenness to strengthen its standing partnership with ICESCO and develop cooperation in the field of youth capacity building and skill development, particularly in the cultural field, promoting civilizational dialogue, and combating extremist ideologies, noting that Bangladesh possesses many talents specializing in ICESCO’s areas of work.