Bangladesh

Bangladesh Expresses Interest in Joining Mecca Defense Pact

24 August 2026 22:08 PM

NEWS DESK

Bangladesh has expressed interest in joining the Mecca Defense Pact, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir said on Monday, although he noted that there has been no concrete development on the matter.

“We are interested in the Mecca Defense Pact. However, there has been no development on this issue yet,” Kabir told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The state minister said Bangladesh is increasingly being recognized as an important country and that stakeholders in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world have shown interest in engaging with Dhaka.

“There is an interest among various stakeholders in the Middle East and the Muslim world. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh is being invited in many places to come and participate,” he said.

Kabir also highlighted the special significance of Mecca for the people of Bangladesh.

“Mecca has always held a special place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh,” he said.

He added that if the pact develops into a broader security arrangement among Islamic countries, Bangladesh’s participation would not be unusual.

“If there is a security pact among Islamic nations in the Middle East, then it would not be unusual for Bangladesh to join. Let’s see—it is being viewed positively,” Kabir said.

The Mecca Defense Pact has emerged as a regional security initiative involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan. Bangladesh’s expression of interest could potentially expand the pact’s geographical and political significance if formal discussions on membership begin.

Mecca Defense Pact Bangladesh