Bangladesh on Thursday called on member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to support the legal fund for The Gambia's Rohingya case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and to provide lifesaving assistance until the displaced population can safely return home.

"We also seek support for the legal fund for Gambia's ICJ proceedings and for lifesaving humanitarian assistance until their return," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir stated during the annual coordination meeting of OIC foreign ministers at UN headquarters in New York, according to a official message received here.

Humaiun noted that Bangladesh continues to shelter more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas and urged OIC members to actively work towards their early repatriation.

Addressing broader priorities for the international organization, he advocated for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and renewable energy.

Intra-OIC trade accounted for only 20 percent of member states' total trade in 2024, remaining below the established 25 percent target, he observed.

Humaiun also urged joint efforts in artificial intelligence, innovation, and technology transfer to assist in bridging the digital divide across member nations.

Bangladesh, he stated, is seeking a 15 to 20 percent budget increase for the Islamic University of Technology, an institution where approximately 60 percent of students receive international scholarships.

He endorsed the proposed OIC Programme of Action for 2026-2035, calling for concrete targets concerning food security, digital transformation, health, science, and cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank.

Furthermore, the state minister expressed support for an amplified role for the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia to advance human rights, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

He also reaffirmed Bangladesh's unwavering backing for an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Humaiun concluded by commending Turkiye's leadership as OIC chair and welcoming Iraq as the incoming chair.