Published : 27 Aug 2026, 10:15 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:36 AM
Bangladesh will "positively consider" joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement if invited by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has said.
However, that no such proposal had yet been made, according to him.
Khalilur made the remarks in parliament on Thursday while responding to a supplementary question from independent MP Rumeen Farhana.
Rumeen asked what Bangladesh stood to gain if it joined the pact signed by the three countries on Aug 7.
"This pact has been made among three countries. We view this pact positively. The question of joining it has not yet arisen because that depends on the intentions of the countries that are members of the pact," Khalilur said.
"If they express an interest in bringing Bangladesh into the pact, then we will certainly consider it positively."
The foreign minister said it was too early to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of joining.
"The time has probably not yet come to discuss its merits and demerits. We will certainly take all these issues into consideration," he said.
Khalilur said if the agreement expanded, it could serve as a mechanism for the "self-defence of the global Muslim community".
"This is an internal matter of our Muslim family. Therefore, others have no scope to be concerned about it," he said.
His remarks come three days after State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh had expressed interest in participating in the Makkah defence pact.
Humaiun told reporters on Aug 24 that Bangladesh's leadership, particularly Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was receiving invitations from various quarters to be associated with the alliance.
What is the Makkah Defence Pact?
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Aug 7 amid heightened military tensions in West Asia.
The pact is intended to deepen security cooperation between the three countries, with a collective-defence provision at its core.
Under the agreement, an armed attack on any one member would be treated as an attack on all three.
It also envisages greater political and military coordination, joint military exercises and cooperation in the defence industry.
Turkey has said the pact is not directed against any particular country.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said neither Iran nor any other country had been identified as a common threat under the agreement.
Pakistan has similarly described the pact as "entirely defensive" and said it is open to other countries interested in peaceful dispute resolution and strategic cooperation.
