ISTANBUL, Turkey, 13, 2017 (BSS) – President M Abdul Hamid visited the historic Topkapi Palace (museum), the Ottomans’ second palace in Istanbul during 1478 to 1856.
President Hamid is now in Turkish city of Istanbul to join today’s special summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The President, along with his wife Rashida Khanam and some other family members, arrived at the museum around 2.30 pm (local time) and went round several halls for nearly an hour to see the historical and cultural evidence as well as the rich tradition of four centuries.
The Topkapi Palace, housed each of the Ottoman Sultans from Sultan Mehmed 11 to Sultan Abdulmecid, covering nearly four centuries and 25 Sultans. It later turned into a museum in 1924 upholding the Muslims’ heritages and cultures.
The museum is now famous for some rare collections of Islamic heritages, including the Holy Relics of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) like a mantle, sword, seal, tooth, beard and footprints and the Khaliphs, Quarn scripts, religious books of ancient times and framed inscriptions are on display here.
Besides, keys of the Holy K’aba, a hand, arm and the skull bones belonging to Saint John the Bapists are also on display there. The museum is composed of well furnished and designed with different hall rooms – The Audiences Hall, The Third Courtyard, Harem of Sultans, Divan (Imperial Council Hall), Tower of Justice Hall of Independent, Privay Stables and Mustafa Pasa Pavillion.
On his arrival at the museum, its officials welcomed President Hamid. After visiting the halls, President Hamid exchanged his pleasantries with the authority concerned of the museum.
Later, the President visited Blue Mosque, an ancient mosque in the Istanbul, a major city of Turkey surrounding two continents -Asia and Europe – through Bosporus channel, coincided with beautiful natural scenery there.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Allama Siddiki, Bangladesh Consulate General in Istanbul Mohammad Monirul Islam, secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban accompanied the President.
President and his entourage also joined a dinner hosted by the Embassy of Bangladesh, Ankara in Turkey.
He will deliver his speech at the special OIC summit at Istanbul Congress and Exhibition Centre (ICEC) at 11 am tomorrow to highlight Bangladesh’s position on the unilateral US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
President Hamid is scheduled to return home early Thursday by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.