Dhaka, May 29: Pakistan and Senegal have officially backed Bangladesh's candidate for the top job in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), a senior foreign ministry official said today. "Pakistan and Senegal have officially informed us of their decision to back the candidature of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury as the next secretary general of the OIC," foreign secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury told reporters. He said the "initial reaction" of Saudi Arabia, an influential member of the OIC, was also "very good." Quader Chowdhury will stand for general secretary of the 57-nation Islamic bloc during a meeting of foreign ministers next year to choose a successor to Morrocco's Abdulwahed Belkeziz. A ruling party MP, Quader Chowdhury is the parliament affairs advisor to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and a senior politician. Bangladesh had tried twice before to clinch the post, but the candidates withdrew before the vote. Bureau Report