ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan formally announced on Friday its support for the candidature of Bangladesh for the top slot of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Bangladesh has proposed the candidature of Mr Salauddin Quader as secretary-general of the OIC.

Pakistan formally conveyed its support for the candidature of Mr Chowdhry, special advisor to the prime minister of Bangladesh, when he called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Friday.

“Both the president and the prime minister noted that they viewed Bangladesh as a friend, with shared Islamic values, common interests, mutual goodwill and great potential for bilateral cooperation. They reiterated Pakistan’s support for the candidature of Mr Chowdhry,” the foreign office spokesman said after the meeting.

They also exchanged views on the possibilities of the revitalization of the OIC, he added.

The new OIC secretary-general would be named at the OIC summit in Kuala Lumpur in October.

Mr Chowdhry is one of the senior most members of the Bangladeshi parliament with an outstanding track record in parliamentary debates and legislative contributions.