Senior MPs Rashed Khan Menon and Fakhrul Imam have demanded a statement from the foreign minister on whether the signing of a “defence pact” between Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not contradictory to the constitution.
Former minister and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon raised the issue in parliament on Thursday.
He demanded the foreign minister make a statement on the “agreement” under section 300 of the rules of procedure in parliament, and urged the speaker of the House to issue a ruling on the issue.
Referring to a BBC report, Menon said Bangladesh was going to sign a “defence deal” with Saudi Arabia, under which Bangladesh will deploy 1,800 troops along the Yemen border.
"The Foreign Ministry neither admitted it nor denied it... but we have come to know that the signing of the deal is now at the final stage, and we must examine whether Article 25 of our Constitution is being violated," he said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia, aiming to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
Also Read- Dhaka, Riyadh sign defense MoU
Bangladesh Armed Forces Division Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman and Saudi Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Lt Gen Mutlaqbin Salim Al-azaima singed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides at the Saudi Ministry of Defence in Riyadh, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabian capital.
Under the MoU, the two countries will help each other in the fields of military training, practice and education, military information and intelligence, defence industry, supply and maintenance, military treatment and research, sports, social and cultural activities, science and technology, marine security and combating piracy. The armed forces of the two countries will also share experiences and conduct visits to one another.
Menon said the state shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect for international law and the principles enunciated in the United Nations Charter as per the Article 25 of the constitution.
"We must review the deal from two aspects -- whether the deployment of troops [under the deal] is related to the UN and pertinent to its charter and what will be the effect on our political image if we have military presence aboard," he said.
Mentioning that the Saudi-led coalition along with the USA is regularly carrying out attacks on Yemen to suppress Houthi rebels for its own interest, the Workers Party chief said the UN Secretary General has described the Yemen situation as the worst humanitarian disaster in the world.
"Under such a situation, our army will remove mines from there. For whose interest will our army sacrifice their lives in the name of clearing mines that the Bangladesh Constitution does not allow?" he said.
Menon also feared that the deployment of Bangladeshi troops would lead to conflicts in Bangladesh’s relations with other countries.
Supporting Menon, Jatiya Party MP Imam questioned the signing of the deal bypassing parliament.
Stating that parliament is the main centre for discussing any issue, he said: "What would have been the problem if it was discussed here?"
