Bangladesh's Saudi coalition joining is strategic, not anti-Iran: PM's Adviser

Bangladesh's Saudi coalition joining is strategic, not anti-Iran: PM's Adviser

Bangladesh's decision to join the Saudi-led defence coalition is in no way aimed at Iran; rather, it is part of strengthening strategic ties with Saudi Arabia and cooperating to counter the Houthi threat, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

He made the remarks while responding to a question from journalists at the Secretariat on Sunday (August 2).

The Foreign Affairs Adviser said Bangladesh joined the Saudi-led defence coalition to counter the Houthi threat. He noted that Bangladesh is also in dialogue with Iran, so there is no reason to view the move as an attempt to isolate or harm Iran.

He said the core issue is that Bangladesh shares a special relationship with Saudi Arabia. That relationship is not limited to Hajj, Umrah or pilgrimage. It should not be viewed solely from a religious perspective. The relationship between Dhaka and Riyadh will be a strategic one, and it will be very strong.

Humayun Kabir said Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Islam's two holiest mosques in Mecca and Medina, which is why Bangladesh shares a special bond with the country. If Saudi Arabia seeks cooperation for its security at any time, Bangladesh, as one of the world's largest Muslim nations, will always respond to assist from that spiritual and moral standpoint.

On Bangladesh-US relations, the Foreign Affairs Adviser said the recent Dhaka visit of US Presidential Special Envoy Sergio Gor was an introductory and exploratory visit. It was his first visit to Bangladesh, and the primary objective was to further strengthen bilateral ties.

He said the meetings between Sergio Gor and the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman were held in a very cordial atmosphere. Discussions covered a wide range of issues, including trade, investment, technology, geopolitics and cooperation on various international matters.

Humayun Kabir said after the visit, Sergio Gor publicly remarked that the United States holds the "highest respect" for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, which reflects the depth of the relationship and mutual trust between the two countries.

He further said the current US administration is emphasising building sustainable commercial relations in the Asia-Pacific region and views Bangladesh as an important partner. He added that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership, Bangladesh's relations with key countries around the world have reached new heights, and a balanced foreign policy is being pursued, prioritising national interests based on the 'Bangladesh First' policy.