Mecca-Medina peace a priority as Bangladesh considers defence pact
Bangladesh could deploy its peacekeeping expertise more extensively across the world, particularly to help maintain peace in the region encompassing Mecca and Medina, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Saturday, as the government positively considers the Mecca Defence Agreement.
Speaking to journalists after a national seminar at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Kobir said regional peace and stability in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world would be central to Bangladesh’s decision on the agreement.
“We are having positive discussions on the Mecca Defence Agreement. We are viewing it positively,” he said.
Kobir said Bangladesh could take a favourable decision if participation served its national interests and allowed the country’s peacekeeping expertise to contribute to the welfare of Muslim nations and stability in the Middle East.
“If it falls within the national interests of Bangladesh and converges, and we feel that our peacekeeping expertise can add value in serving Muslim nations and keeping a stable, peaceful Middle East, then there is every scope to take a positive decision on the matter,” he said.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and North South University’s Center for Migration Studies jointly organised the seminar, titled “From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: Reimagining Bangladesh-KSA Relations.”
The state minister said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had accepted an invitation from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince to visit the Kingdom, adding that the visit would take place soon.
“He has accepted and will do so at some point very soon,” Kobir said.
He added that the Crown Prince had also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh, which Dhaka would welcome at a mutually convenient time.
Describing Bangladesh as a strong Saudi partner in maritime security, Kobir called for a broader economic and strategic partnership that goes beyond labour migration and remittances.
“While that foundation remains important, it cannot be the ceiling of our ambition,” he said.
He said Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Bangladesh’s economic transformation had created opportunities for cooperation in investment, human capital, technology and connectivity.
The two countries were discussing a possible investment fund to facilitate joint ventures in priority sectors, including renewable energy, infrastructure, ports, logistics, agriculture, fisheries, food security, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology and artificial intelligence, he added.
Kobir stressed that attracting investment would require a predictable and transparent business environment, stronger institutional coordination and timely decision-making.
He also called for a shift towards recruiting more trained and certified Bangladeshi professionals to meet the changing demands of Saudi Arabia’s labour market. Stronger cooperation among training institutions, universities and industries would help align workers’ skills with Saudi market requirements, he said.
The welfare, dignity and rights of Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia would remain a government priority, Kobir added.
He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in ports, shipping, logistics, aviation, supply chains, and knowledge and technology partnerships.
“The next chapter of Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia relations should therefore be defined by value creation rather than volume alone,” he said, emphasising the need for an equal and sustainable partnership between the two countries.
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer bin Abiyah attended the seminar as the guest of honour. Foreign Ministry Secretary (Bilateral) Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Md Mokhtar Ahmed were among the special guests.
BIISS Director General Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman and NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury also addressed the event.