Khalilur Rahman tells parliament Makkah pact is Muslim world’s ‘self-defence mechanism’
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament on Thursday that the country would consider “positively” if founding members of the Makkah pact invite South Asian nations to join it.
“Joining the pact or not has not come yet, as it is subjected to the intention of the parties involved in the pact. If they invite Bangladesh to join, then we will definitely consider it positively,” the foreign minister said.
He assured parliament that Bangladesh would assess the potential benefits before making any decision to join.
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Calling the pact a self-defence mechanism for the Muslim world, Rahman said, “More importantly, we have to keep in mind it is the world Muslim community’s self-defence mechanism. And this is our family’s, Muslim family’s internal matter. So, there is nothing for others to be concerned about.”
Separately, opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said that joining the Makkah pact was Bangladesh’s “own decision”.
“If Bangladesh takes a decision in the interests and needs of the country and nation, no one else needs to suffer (worry about),” he said in a statement on Facebook.
Read more: Bangladesh interested in joining Makkah Defence pact: official
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the joint defence agreement at a trilateral summit in Makkah on August 7, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the summit at Al-Safa Palace.
On August 25, Bangladesh’s newly appointed state minister for foreign affairs expressed interest in joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
“We have expressed our interest in the Makkah Defence pact … Bangladesh is now a country of recognition. The partners in West Asia (Middle East), the partners in the Muslim world around the globe are now inviting the leadership of Bangladesh, especially the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to be with them in many places,” said Humayun Kobir.
“If there is one (agreement) in West Asia, if there is a security agreement between Islamic countries, then it is not unusual to go there. Let’s see. The matter is being viewed positively,” said Kabir, who earlier served as an advisor to Rahman.
Humayun’s comments come three days after he had initially signalled Bangladesh’s willingness to join the pact on Saturday, as Dhaka seeks to expand its strategic partnerships while keeping national interests at the centre of its foreign policy, it emerged on Saturday, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.
Read: Bangladesh shows willingness to joining Pakistan-Turkiye-Saudi defence pact
“Bangladesh maintains a positive approach towards the possibility of joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, taking into account its own interests and the changing dynamics of the global economy and trade,” Kobir said.
He added that Bangladesh was pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First” approach in the international arena, with national interests at its core.
“Bangladesh is strengthening its working bilateral relationship with Pakistan as part of normal diplomatic engagement, with a focus on trade and bilateral people-to-people connectivity,” he said.
