Bangladesh positive about joining 'Mecca Pact': Foreign Minister
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Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has said that if a proposal to join the Mecca Pact is received, it will be considered positively.
He said, "If the Mecca Pact expands further in the future, it could serve as a measure of self-defense for the global Muslim community. This is our family. This is an internal matter of the Muslim family. Others need not be concerned about it."
The minister made these remarks on Thursday during the third session of the thirteenth National Parliament, in response to a supplementary question from independent MP Rumeen Farhana.
The Foreign Minister informed Parliament that Bangladesh's accession to the Mecca Pact is not currently under discussion. It depends on the intentions of the member states. If they express interest in including Bangladesh in the pact, the government will consider the matter positively.
The Foreign Minister said, "Before a proposal for Bangladesh's inclusion comes, the time has not yet arrived to discuss the pros and cons of the pact. However, the government will take all aspects into consideration on this matter."
Earlier, on Monday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir had said, "We have expressed interest in participating in the Mecca Defense Pact. The people of Bangladesh have always held a special place in their hearts for Mecca. If there is a security agreement among Islamic countries, then it would be unusual not to join. The matter is being viewed positively."
What the Opposition Says
Leader of the Opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has described Bangladesh's joining of the Mecca Pact as an exclusive sovereign matter of the country.
In a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday afternoon, he said, "Joining the Mecca Pact is an exclusive matter for Bangladesh. If Bangladesh makes any decision based on the needs and interests of the country and the nation, others need not suffer any discomfort."
He further said, "Bangladesh has the right to make any decision keeping in mind the interests of the country and the needs of its people. There is no need for anyone else to be concerned about such decisions."
What is the Mecca Pact?
On August 7, a trilateral joint defense pact was signed in the holy city of Mecca among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, which was named the 'Mecca Pact'. The agreement states that if any member country becomes the target of a military attack, it will be considered an attack on all member states.
The pact simultaneously aims to strengthen the collective security of the three countries and to establish peace, security, and stability in the region, including the Middle East, and beyond.
After signing the agreement, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the pact is consistent with the right to individual and collective self-defense recognized under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
However, the pact does not specify any obligation to deploy a certain number of troops, warplanes, or weapons if a country is in danger, nor does it specify what kind of military response would be given in case of an attack.
Regarding the obligation of other signatory countries to step in if one country is attacked, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has described it as "virtually identical" to the collective defense clause under NATO's Article 5.
