‘No risk’ in Mecca Pact

#Dhaka finds it a unique initiative

#Willing to bolster defence ties Beijing

Bangladesh sees no major risk in joining the proposed Mecca Pact and will balance its relations with different countries and alliances while remaining committed to global peace and stability.

“We view it positively,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Sunday told journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referring to the proposed pact aimed at strengthening cooperation among Muslim countries.

He said Bangladesh’s long-standing experience in United Nations peacekeeping could make a meaningful contribution to efforts to promote peace and security in the Muslim world.

“Bangladesh is a huge contributor to peacekeeping around the world under the United Nations framework.

So, in terms of keeping peace, it is not a new thing in Bangladesh’s experience and expertise. We are being recognised for that. We do it around the world,” he said.

“Then why can we not do it for our Muslim brotherhood here?” Kobir said, referring to potential cooperation with Muslim countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Asked about whether Bangladesh had discussed the matter with Saudi and Turkish representatives on the sidelines of the recent Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ministerial meeting in Jeddah, he said, “Yes, discussions have taken place.”

Asked about their position, Kobir said, “Positive! Positive!”
He said Bangladesh’s extensive peacekeeping experience was one of the reasons why the country could make a valuable contribution to any international peace and security initiative.

“We supply one of the largest armed forces contributions to the UN system. So we are at the forefront of international security on the ground,” he said.

“We contribute because they think Bangladesh will genuinely add value, because it has experience and expertise on that particular matter,” he added.

Kobir dismissed concerns about potential risks from the proposed pact, stressing that Bangladesh would maintain a flexible foreign and security policy.

“There is no risk here. We will balance our relations and Bangladesh is for peace and stability throughout the world. So, wherever peace and stability is a principal component, Bangladesh’s position will be there,” he said.

Asked about the biggest possible risk of the pact, Kobir responded with a smile: “If you think about dying before living, what is the benefit?”

He described the proposed arrangement as “a unique pact” and said it created new opportunities for Bangladesh at a time of growing volatility in the international political environment.

“If you are in this alliance, it does not mean that you cannot contribute to another alliance or that you cannot contribute somewhere else. Not necessarily,” he said.

“You have to approach foreign policy and security cooperation in a very integrated way, particularly a country like Bangladesh,” he added.

Kobir, however, said Bangladesh had not yet received a formal invitation to join the pact. “When they formally invite us, we will let you know,” he said, adding that discussions on the matter were continuing with Bangladesh’s bilateral partners.

On Bangladesh’s proposed 2+2 dialogue with China, Kobir said preparations were under way but no date had yet been fixed.

He said Dhaka and Beijing are set to launch a State Minister-level Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue and initiate a Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue as the two countries seek to give fresh momentum to their bilateral relations.

“The 2+2 approach, as well as the shared community approach that China takes, these are things that then come to the table,” he said.

Kobir said the proposed dialogue demonstrated Bangladesh’s growing geopolitical importance and China’s interest in deepening engagement with Dhaka.

“It shows the importance of Bangladesh’s geopolitical placement, as well as the importance of Bangladesh’s geopolitical vision under the elected government,” he said.

He said the groundwork for the dialogue was being laid and that it would begin “at a time of mutual convenience in the very near future”.

However, “we have not said any dates as such yet,” he said.

Kobir described China as “an important partner, development partner” of Bangladesh and said Dhaka would use the proposed dialogue to strengthen bilateral relations.

“We will positively use this space to discuss and take our relations and strengthen them further,” he said.

Kobir said Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, British High Commissioner Sara Cook and the Saudi Arabian Ambassador separately called on him at the Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

He said his meeting with the Chinese ambassador focused on issues of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral relations.

“With the Ambassador of China, we discussed many issues of mutual interest and how to strengthen our bilateral relations further. It was a positive discussion,” he said.

The Chinese envoy briefed Kobir on the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s recent China visit, including the groundbreaking of the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ), the signing of a commercial contract for the modernisation of Mongla Port and possible cooperation in establishing a Mongla Export Processing Zone.

The CEIZ is expected to attract around 30 Chinese companies with investment of approximately US$500 million and create an estimated 100,000 jobs for Bangladeshis, according to the Chinese side.

The two sides also discussed cooperation on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration, the early launch of the Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue and the beginning of the State Minister-level Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue.

The discussions also covered Bangladesh’s proposed exports of jackfruit and guava to China, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor and cooperation over the Rohingya crisis.