Dhaka sets sights on Mecca Pact

Bangladesh is considering greater engagement with emerging security and diplomatic initiatives in the Muslim world, including the proposed Mecca Defense Pact, as the government seeks to expand the country’s strategic partnerships and strengthen its international influence, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiyun Kobir said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on his first working day as state minister, Kobir said Bangladesh had expressed interest in the Mecca pact, although there had been no new development on the matter.

“No, no, we have expressed interest,” he said when asked about the pact.
His remarks came as he outlined what he described as a new phase in Bangladesh’s foreign policy, with the government seeking to deepen bilateral and multilateral relations while raising the country’s global visibility and influence.

Kobir said the past six months had been devoted to establishing a strategic framework for the country’s foreign policy, which would now serve as the basis for more substantive diplomatic engagements.

“Over the last six months, we have established a strategic framework for our foreign policy. It has a strong, solid foundation now,” he said.

“From that, now we will roll out our engagements. And we will… build our relations, bilateral relations, multilateral relations from a position of strength.”

The state minister said the government would focus on giving greater substance to Bangladesh’s bilateral relationships and taking the country’s “visibility, influence… to great new heights”.

He described his appointment as a continuation of the work he had already been carrying out as the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, rather than a completely new beginning.

“It is not the first day of work as such. Work is about continuity,” he said, adding that the new assignment required the government to “hit the ball… ground running”.

Kobir said he was already familiar with senior officials at the Foreign Ministry after working with them over the past six months.

“The assignment is new, but it is an assignment that is an extension of further work in the sphere that I have already been working in,” he said.

Expressing confidence in the ministry and its officials, he said: “Together… we can take Bangladesh, Insha’Allah, into a new horizon.”

He said Bangladesh should be recognised internationally for its soft power, medium power and other forms of influence.

On the Mecca pact, Kobir said Bangladesh’s growing international recognition was generating greater interest among key stakeholders in the Middle East and the wider Muslim world.

“Bangladesh is now a country of recognition, and there is interest,” he said.
He added that key stakeholders were inviting Bangladesh’s leadership, particularly Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, to participate in discussions and engagements.

Kobir also underlined the special place of Mecca in the national consciousness of Bangladeshis, saying, “Mecca always holds a special place… Mecca is in the heart of Bangladesh, in the hearts of…”
‘I am Bangladeshi’
Asked about reports and social media discussions concerning his British citizenship and whether he had renounced it before taking up the state ministerial post, Kobir responded firmly: “I am Bangladeshi.”

“Here, Bangladesh… Bangladeshi… I don’t think there is anybody that will question my Bangladeshism and my stand,” he said.

Responding to questions about social media reports, he added: “I come with citizenship, and you talk about netizens! I mean, which netizens?”

Kobir also referred to the political period associated with Moeen U Ahmed and Fakhruddin Ahmed, asking whether “the heartburn of Moeen U Ahmed, and Fakhruddin” was “acting up again”.

He called for unity among the media, citizens and political leaders in advancing national interests.

“All people who take a strong stance for the country, patriotic people who are here, those who stand by the country—all of us including the media, the citizens, the political leaders, we will all unite and take this country forward, Insha’Allah,” he said.

He subsequently urged journalists to focus on substantive issues concerning the Foreign Ministry as the government seeks to translate its foreign-policy framework into deeper bilateral and multilateral engagement.