Bangladesh is open to joining Mecca Pact: Foreign minister
Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has said that the Mecca Pact is a mechanism for the self-defence of the global Muslim community. It is an internal matter of our Muslim family. There is nothing for others to be concerned about regarding it. If invited, Bangladesh will consider it positively. He said this in response to a supplementary question during the session of the National Parliament held yesterday Thursday, chaired by Speaker Mr. Hafiz Uddin Ahmed (Bir Bikram). In the supplementary question, independent Member of Parliament Ms. Rumeen Farhana said Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the Mecca Pact on August 7. What would be the benefit to Bangladesh if it joined it?
In response, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman said, “This pact has been made among three countries. We view it positively. The issue of joining it has not yet arisen, because it depends on the intentions of the signatories. If they express their intention to include Bangladesh in this pact, we will certainly consider it positively.” The Foreign Minister said that perhaps the time has not yet come to discuss its advantages and disadvantages. He said, “We will certainly consider these issues. However, we must remember one thing: if this pact is expanded, then it is a mechanism for the self-defence of the global Muslim community.”
Meanwhile, last Monday, Foreign State Minister Mr. Humayun Kabir made it clear for the first time that Dhaka views an invitation to join the Mecca Pact positively. He said that if there is a security pact among Islamic countries in the Middle East, there would be nothing unusual about Bangladesh joining it. However, Bangladesh has not yet made any decision on the matter. Besides, it is also unclear under what conditions Bangladesh could join it. The issue has emerged at a time when Bangladesh has long followed a policy of not joining any defence alliance and maintaining relations with the superpowers of the world.
According to experts, if Bangladesh joins the defence pact of the three countries, it will gain broad access to Türkiye’s defence technology. Alongside this, it will receive military training from Pakistan and financing from Saudi Arabia. By joining this pact, Bangladesh’s position in the Muslim world will deepen and its relations with the Arab Gulf countries will become stronger. Millions of Bangladeshi expatriates live in these countries and send remittances.
According to Indian mass media, India is quite concerned about the Mecca Defence Pact. Because through this, its arch-rival Pakistan will receive greater military assistance from Türkiye and financial assistance from Saudi Arabia. Alongside this, it will also receive greater diplomatic support from Türkiye and Saudi Arabia than before.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman presented the government’s latest position in the National Parliament on the sharing of water of the country’s common rivers, renewal of the Ganges Treaty and the Teesta master plan. On the other hand, Planning State Minister Mr. Junaid Saki outlined various steps taken by the government to eliminate increased costs and delays in mega projects and regional disparities.
Regarding the overall management of the Teesta River, the Foreign Minister said that the process of technical evaluation with China for implementing the much-discussed Teesta project has effectively begun. The government will complete this evaluation soon and take the next practical steps. He also assured that international diplomatic communication is continuing to protect the rights to river water while keeping the climate and water flow intact.
In response to a starred question related to foreign affairs, Dr. Khalilur Rahman further said that the government remains firm in securing a fair share of the country’s common rivers. In view of the expiry of the Ganges Treaty, a high-level expert team has already been formed to conclude a new bilateral agreement. A formal proposal has been sent to India, and the government is currently waiting for its response.
