"The executive committee of the 57-member OIC at its meeting held in Malaysia on Thursday decided that all member states would send letters to the UNSC individually, requesting it to take actions for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon," said Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin while briefing the journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

He said Bangladesh in line with the decision taken by the executive committee of the OIC will send a letter to the UN body in this regard.

The foreign secretary said Bangladesh's stand on the Lebanon issue in the special summit of the OIC was highly acclaimed by the member states.

About the outcome of the special summit on the Middle East crisis, he said all member states have strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

He said the extraordinary session of the OIC has also adopted a 14-point declaration charging Israel with full responsibility for the consequences of its aggression on Lebanon and demanded compensation for loss of lives and property.

The foreign secretary said the Putrajaya declaration demanded immediate steps by the UNSC to restore peace by enforcing unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon.

He said the OIC leaders called for convening a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council as well as a meeting of the high contracting parties to the 4th Geneva Convention to address the violation in Lebanon.

Hemayetuddin said the leaders welcomed all efforts taken towards ending the violence and bringing about lasting peace in Lebanon. They stressed the important role of the UN in this regard, underlining the importance of the consent of parties concerned on any future settlement, he added.

The foreign secretary said the OIC leaders urged the international community, especially the member countries of the OIC, to generously contribute to current humanitarian relief efforts.

He said Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in her speech called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon, with total cessation of violence and deployment of an international force for stabilising the Israel-Lebanon border under the United Nations.

"The prime minister's call was widely appreciated in the meeting and included in the declaration," the foreign secretary said.

Hemayetuddin said on the sidelines of the special OIC session, the prime minister of Malaysia and the prime minister of Lebanon separately met Khaleda Zia and thanked her for her country's strong support for the cause of Lebanon.