A delegation of Bangladeshi clerics led by Maulana Mamunul Haque has reportedly held talks in Kabul with Mullah Abdul Manan Omari, brother of late Taliban founder Mullah Omar and Afghanistan’s incumbent minister for labour and social welfare.
In a Facebook Live broadcast from Kabul on Thursday night, Mamunul, the chief of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, said the hour-long session took place earlier in the day at the ministry, reports bdnews24.com.
He described the minister as “very modest, humble, and a wise scholar”, saying his demeanour showed “the peak of humility”.
Omari is the younger brother of Mullah Omar, the founder and spiritual head of the Taliban, serving as chief of the movement’s first government in 1996. Omar’s son, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, is Afghanistan’s defence minister.
According to the Middle East Institute, Omari had been minister of public works from September 2021 before being appointed minister for labour and social welfare in January 2023. He also took part in Taliban delegations at the Doha talks with the former Afghan government in 2020 and 2021.
The seven-member delegation from Bangladesh is currently staying at Kabul Star Hotel in the Afghan capital. Alongside Mamunul are his party`s deputy chief Maulana Abdul Hamid, Maulana Abdul Awal, Maulana Abdul Haque, Maulana Habibullah Mahmud Qasemi, Maulana Monir Hossain Qasemi and Maulana Mahbubur Rahman.
In his live stream, Mamunul said the clerics had travelled via Dubai after performing Umrah in Makkah. He called Thursday “the first official day” of their visit, during which they focussed on scholarly exchanges, strengthening ties between clerics in the two countries, and broader unity across the Muslim community worldwide.
“We also held discussions in a sincere fashion about the current crises facing the Muslim ummah,” he said, adding that Afghanistan’s director general for labour and social welfare was present at the meeting.
LABOUR AND TRADE OPPORTUNITIES
Mamunul said the Afghan authorities were seeking skilled manpower from abroad, especially in engineering, technology and medical sciences. He said the minister hoped Bangladesh would assist “as a Muslim country” in these sectors.
“In healthcare, the labour market, and in trade and commerce, Afghanistan can be a potential partner,” Mamunul said. He described Afghanistan as a “very promising” labour market for Bangladesh, but noted that bilateral trade in the last fiscal year amounted to only $50 million.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s healthcare advances, he said Afghan people had “enormous” medical needs.
“Through proper diplomatic ties, we can send our medical professionals. This would not only bring foreign currency to Bangladesh, but also allow us to serve millions of deprived Afghans,” he said.
CALL FOR UNITY
Mamunul also pointed to the recent defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, calling it an inspiration for the “entire Muslim ummah”.
“The time has come for Muslim unity. At a time when Palestinians in Gaza face brutal oppression, attacks, and atrocities backed by Western powers, the Muslim leadership must stand beside them.”
He added that the delegation planned to hold further bilateral meetings with officials from other Afghan ministries, and would also visit areas affected by a recent earthquake.
During the trip, the clerics toured the Mullah Omar Jame Mosque, built in the style of Al Aqsa on Wazir Akbar Khan Hill, as well as Afghanistan’s largest national flag, 40 metres long and inscribed with the kalima, which flies on a tall minaret beside the mosque.
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis said the delegation was visiting at the invitation of the Afghan government. Mamunul explained that the trip was organised by a UK-based group called Prosper Afghanistan, which, he said, supports disadvantaged Muslim communities with a focus on Afghanistan.
“With their support, and at the invitation of the Afghan Ministry of Interior, our week-long trip is under way,” he said.
By Friday afternoon, Mamunul’s Facebook Live video had been viewed nearly 149,000 times, drawing more than 2,500 comments and over 10,000 reactions.
