Tuesday, March 2, 1999 Published at 15:53 GMT
World: South Asia
Muslim leaders urge economic reform
The meeting was delayed for months because of floods
The D-8 developing Islamic countries have called for reform of the international financial system.
The two-day meeting brought together the eight most populous Muslim countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
However, the Turkish President Suleyman Demirel warned against protectionism in response to the Asian financial crisis.
The D-8 countries have a combined population of more than 800 million, but represent only 4% of global trade.
However, BBC Dhaka Correspondent David Chazan says increasing trade within the D-8 may prove difficult because the members face different problems and some have conflicting economic interests.
Leaders stay away
In Bangladesh, some analysts dismissed the D-8 as yet another talking shop, pointing out that the group's first summit since it was launched was being attended by only four heads of state or government.
Leaders of Iran, Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria pulled out of the meeting, citing domestic commitments.
Others, however, have welcomed the D-8 as a way to reduce what they see as Bangladesh's economic dependence on India and increase links with other Muslim countries.
Few observers in Bangladesh expected any major decisions to be taken at the summit, but there is speculation that some bilateral deals may be done.
Malaysia, for example, has expressed interest in new joint ventures to exploit Bangladesh's substantial gas reserves, and Bangladesh would like to send more migrant workers to Malaysia.