President Zillur Rahman returned home yesterday after a six-day visit to Turkey, joining the Economic Summit of COMCEC (Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation) of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul on November 9. An Emirates Airline flight brought the president back home.

Finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith, agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, the dean of the diplomatic corps, Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh, cabinet secretary, the navy chief and senior civil and armed forces officials were present at the airport to receive the president. The president addressed the COMCEC economic summit, which was attended by a number of heads of the states of OIC member countries to mark the 25th anniversary of COMCEC.

COMCEC Chairman and President of Turkey Abdullah Gul chaired the summit where President Rahman raised issues related to adverse affects of the climate change and various challenges of ongoing global economic crisis. The president also held bilateral talks with heads of different OIC member-states including Turkey and Jordan on the sidelines of the summit. The COMCEC meetings are traditionally held with the participation of the ministers of the OIC member-states in charge of economy and trade. This year, in commemoration of its 25th anniversary, the COMCEC has arranged the economic summit, which will be participated by a number of heads of state for the first time.

-The Independent