Dhaka can benefit but needs to carefully assess strategic implications: Experts

Bangladesh can benefit from joining the “Mecca Defence Pact” if it proceeds with effective diplomatic preparation and political consensus, said international relations expert Prof Shahab Enam Khan, stressing that Bangladesh needs to carefully assess the regional, diplomatic and strategic implications of joining the pact.

“...if we do it with effective diplomatic preparation, with political consensus, it would definitely be good for Bangladesh,” said Prof Khan, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Center for Indo-Pacific Affairs, at a discussion in the city on Monday. Speaking at a roundtable titled “Joining the Mecca Pact: Sustaining Bangladesh’s Options,” Prof Khan said Bangladesh faces its own security challenges in the Bay of Bengal and the wider region, including instability in neighboring countries and the situation in Myanmar.

“I think it is good that we are having discussions about this and if Bangladesh can join the Mecca Pact, it would be good,” he said.

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Sunday reiterated that the “Mecca Pact” is an internal matter of the world Muslim family” and that there is no reason for anyone to be upset or worried about this.

“This is not a matter of threatening. This is not a matter of attacking anyone. This is a matter of self-defense of our world Muslim family. So I do not see any reason for anyone to be upset or worried about this,” he said.

Prof Khan of Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University, noted that regional organisations such as BIMSTEC and SAARC have so far been unable to provide effective collective security. “So I think Bangladesh can help its neighbouring countries with its own collective security,” he said.