Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday emphasised strengthening the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to settle the problems among the Muslim Ummah through negotiations.

‘Strengthening of OIC is crucial so that the outsiders get no scope to take advantage,’ she said when newly appointed ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh Abdullah H M Al-Mutairi met her at her Tejgaon office.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Prime Minister congratulated the new envoy and assured him of extending all cooperation in discharging his duties during his stay in Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina said the relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are historic as around two million Bangladeshis are working in Saudi Arabia contributing to its economy.

She also denounced the recent terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia saying no true Muslim can support such terrorist acts.

‘Terrorism is the religion of the terrorist,’ the prime minister raised question saying how a Muslim can kill another Muslim?

 The Saudi envoy said Saudi King values the special relation of his country with Bangladesh. ‘The relation will get stronger in the coming days,’ he hoped.

The envoy informed the prime minister that about 6 million Muslims would be able to perform hajj every year on completion of the ongoing construction works of Makkah.

Pointing out the recent bomb attacks in Saudi mosques, he said the people of Saudi Arabia are against the acts in the name of religion. ‘There’s no scope of bomb attacks in Islam, and we've a strong community against such terrorist acts,’ he said.

The ambassador said he would work to consolidate relations of his country with Bangladesh during his stay in Dhaka.

PM's principal secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad and senior officials of Saudi Embassy were present.