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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Thursday | 27 August 2026, 12 Bhadro 1433 PID registration number 06

HEADLINE

● Bangladesh eyes Makkah Pact for military gains, rejects external pressure ● Nepal flash flood raises concern over possible water surge in Bangladesh ● China to supply electricity to national grid at Tk 25 per unit ● No need for external anxiety over Makkah Pact, says Jamaat Amir ● 5 more die with measles symptoms; total toll 856 ● 13th Parliament’s 3rd session starts ● Bangladesh ready to provide any support, Khalilur to Nepalese FM

Bangladesh eyes Makkah Pact for military gains, rejects external pressure

Published : Thursday, 27 August, 2026 at 4:20 PM

Observer Online Report

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman informed Parliament on Thursday that Bangladesh is viewing the newly formed "Makkah Defence Pact" positively, as international experts highlight that joining the alliance could yield significant military and economic advantages for the nation.

Responding to a supplementary query from Brahmanbaria-2 Member of Parliament Rumeen Farhana regarding the potential benefits of participating in the accord, the Foreign Minister confirmed the government's strategic interest.

"Bangladesh sees this pact in a positive light," Dr Khalilur Rahman said, framing the initiative as a self-defense mechanism for the global Muslim community. He noted that formal entry into the bloc ultimately depends on the mutual agreement of existing member states.

Addressing parliamentary discussions surrounding potential geopolitical pushback, the Foreign Minister asserted the country's independent stance. "We have buried submissive foreign policy," Dr Khalilur Rahman declared. "Bangladesh will never bow its head to anyone again."

The "Makkah Joint Defence Pact" was formally signed on August 7 in Makkah by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after nearly a year of negotiations. Under its mutual defense clause, an attack against any member nation is regarded as an attack on all signatories.

The initiative gained momentum following the 2023 Gaza-Israel conflict and built upon a bilateral defense agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in September 2025.

The parliamentary session was presided over by Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

-SA

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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