Bangladesh's Interim Government Invites the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders to Visit the Country. 

His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, received Mr. Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, this morning. Their meeting took place at the Grand Imam's residence in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the 29th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

During the encounter, the head of Bangladesh's interim government expressed his pleasure at meeting His Eminence the Grand Imam and conveyed his country’s deep respect for Al-Azhar's role in shaping thousands of Bangladeshi minds through its educational and ideological frameworks. He highlighted Bangladesh's pride in its relationship with Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders, and its eagerness to strengthen these ties and explore new avenues of cooperation across various fields.

He further recounted the significant historical role of Al-Azhar during the early 1980s when it supported his "Bank for the Poor" initiative, which later earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. This initiative provided microfinance to women and homemakers to help them manage small projects to support their families. While initially met with opposition from most religious leaders in Bangladesh on the grounds of non-compliance with Sharia, Al-Azhar welcomed the project and endorsed it with a legal fatwa. This support was crucial in directing the project towards significant contributions to Bangladesh’s development. 

For his part, the Grand Imam emphasized Al-Azhar and the Muslim Council of Elders’ strong ties with Bangladesh, and their intention to enhance these through welcoming more Bangladeshi students at all educational levels at Al-Azhar. He noted that the upcoming period would see enhanced constructive cooperation in areas of mutual interest that meet the desires and aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. He prayed for Allah’s guidance for Mr. Muhammad Yunus in his mission to lead Bangladesh to safety, stability, and security.

Mr. Yunus invited His Eminence the Grand Imam to visit Bangladesh, noting the enthusiastic anticipation of his arrival among the Bangladeshi people. The Grand Imam warmly accepted the invitation, promising to schedule the visit soon.

Also present at the meeting were Prof. Dr. Nazir Ayad, Grand Mufti of Egypt; Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders; and Ambassador Abdel Rahman Moussa, Al-Azhar's Advisor for Foreign Affairs.

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