Dhaka, Jun 02: Bangladesh's main opposition Awami League has objected to the country's nominee for the top post in Organisation of Islamic Countries, accusing him of opposing the 1971 war of liberation. Opposing the naming of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, parliamentary affairs adviser to Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for the post of secretary-general of OIC, the league said "nomination of Chowdhury is not only unacceptable, but also unfortunate for the nation as he directly opposed the country's independence and liberation war".

The party, at a meeting yesterday, has decided to send a letter to the government urging it to replace Chowdhury with an acceptable candidate, a newspaper reported today. The four-party alliance government more than a week ago nominated chowdhury for the top slot in the 57-nation Islamic bloc that would choose a successor to Morocco's Abdulwahed Belkeziz during a foreign ministers' meet next year. Pakistan and Senegal have already extended their support to Chowdhury's candidature, with their envoys here assuring the countries' backing for him. Bangladesh has tried twice before to clinch the post, but the candidates withdrew before the vote.
Bureau Report