Bangladesh interested in Mecca defence pact: Humayun Kabir

Humayun Kabir, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, has said Bangladesh has expressed interest in the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement," signed between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. He said, however, no formal progress or final decision has been made on the matter yet.

He said this while talking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

Humayun Kabir said it would not be unusual for Bangladesh to join any security agreement among Islamic countries, adding that Bangladesh views the matter positively.

Regarding Bangladesh's interest in the Mecca defence pact, he said Bangladesh has already expressed its interest, but no specific decision has been made on it at this moment.

On contacts between Bangladesh's leadership and various countries in the Middle East and the Muslim world, Humayun Kabir said stakeholders from different countries are inviting Bangladesh's leadership to participate in various fields. He also mentioned that they have particular interest in the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Highlighting the importance of Mecca, the state minister for foreign affairs said Mecca is deeply connected to the hearts of the people of Bangladesh, adding that it would not be unusual for Bangladesh to take part in any security alliance or agreement among Islamic countries.

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 joining any defence agreement or alliance.

Regarding his first working day in his new responsibility, Humayun Kabir said that while the responsibility is new, there is continuity in the work. He said a strategic framework for Bangladesh's foreign policy has been built over the past six months, and now relations with every country will be further strengthened while increasing Bangladesh's visibility and influence on the international stage.

He further said he has been working with most of the senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the past six months, so the new responsibility is essentially a continuation of his earlier work.