State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has said Bangladesh has expressed interest in the “Makkah Joint Defence Pact” signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, although no formal progress or final decision has been made yet.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (August 24).
Humaiun said it would not be unusual for Bangladesh to join such a security pact if one is formed among Islamic countries, adding that the matter is being viewed positively.
Asked about Bangladesh’s interest in the Makkah Defence Pact, he said: “We are expressing interest in the Makkah Defence Pact, I told you. Bangladesh now has this country of recognition and there is an interest.”
On Bangladesh’s engagement with stakeholders in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world, the state minister said: “Those who are stakeholders in the Middle East, those who are various stakeholders globally in the Muslim world — they are inviting Bangladesh’s leadership, particularly the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in many places to come and participate.”
Highlighting the importance of Makkah, Humaiun said: “Makkah is in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh. If in the Middle East it happens that there is a security pact among Islamic nations, then we cannot not go there.”
Another State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, said the interests of the country and its people would be given the highest priority in deciding whether to join any defence pact or alliance.
Regarding the current status, officials said that while Bangladesh has expressed initial interest in the matter, there has been no specific new development so far.
‘It’s a continuation of the work’
Speaking about his first working day in his new role, Humaiun Kobir said: “Today is the first day, but it’s not the first day of work. The work is a continuation. The Honorable Prime Minister has given me the new responsibility and, I mean, you hit the ground running, as they say.”
He said his responsibility was essentially a continuation of the work already underway.
“Over the last six months, we have established a strategic framework for foreign policy. It is strong and solid. From now, we will build relations one by one, maintain a position of strength multilaterally, and take our country’s visibility and influence to great new heights,” he said.
On his familiarity with ministry officials, Humaiun Kobir said: “I am familiar with them. Most of the senior officials in the ministry have been working with me for the last six months. It’s a new place and a new assignment, but the assignment is an extension of the work in the sphere I have already been working in.”