Bangladesh would consider it "positively" if founding members of the Mecca defence pact invite the South Asian nation, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament.
“Joining the pact or not has not come yet, as it is subject to the intention of the parties involved in the pact. If they invite Bangladesh to join, then we will definitely consider it positively,” the minister said on Thursday.
He assured parliament that Bangladesh would assess the potential benefits before making any decision to join.
Calling the pact a self-defence mechanism for the Muslim world, Rahman said: “More importantly, we have to keep in mind it (Mecca pact) is the world Muslim community's self-defence mechanism. And this is our family's, Muslim family's internal matter. So, there is nothing for others to be concerned about.”
Separately, opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer (chief) Shafiqur Rahman said on Thursday that joining the Mecca pact is Bangladesh’s "own decision."
“If Bangladesh takes a decision in the interests and needs of the country and nation, no one else needs to suffer (worry about),” he said in a statement on Facebook.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the joint defence agreement at a trilateral summit in Mecca on August 7, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defence cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the summit at Al Safa Palace.
