Keep holy sites beyond conflict

Bangladesh has called for peace and restraint with strongly condemning a reported drone attack on an electricity station in the holy city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and stressing that civilian infrastructure serving the Prophet’s Mosque should remain beyond political and military conflicts.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Government of Bangladesh described the reported attack on the Taibah electricity station as an unacceptable assault on the sanctity of one of Islam’s holy sites.

“Bangladesh stands in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in defending its security and sovereignty,” the government said.

Dhaka also firmly rejected any act of aggression that could undermine regional peace and stability, calling for the protection of civilian facilities and the preservation of the sanctity of the holy sites.

The statement came amid growing concern over the reported attack on infrastructure in Madinah, home to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s most revered sites.

Separately, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, secretary-general of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, condemned the reported drone attack and called for the Haramain – the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah – to be kept above political disputes and military confrontation.

In a statement on Sunday, he said Muslims in Bangladesh, like the wider Muslim Ummah, were deeply concerned by reports of a drone attack on an electricity facility in Madinah.

“We strongly condemn and protest against making the Haramain targets of political conflict,” he said.

Gazi Ataur Rahman stressed that Makkah and Madinah must remain above all forms of political confrontation, violence, war and conflict.

He also acknowledged that those accused of carrying out the attack had denied responsibility, making it difficult for Bangladesh to independently establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Those against whom the attack has been alleged have denied the attack. We have limited opportunity to verify the truth,” he said.

“What we want is simply the assurance that no one is using the Haramain to serve political interests,” he added.

The government and the Islami Andolan leader’s statements underscore concern in Bangladesh that any escalation involving infrastructure serving the holy sites could have repercussions beyond the immediate conflict, given the religious significance of Makkah and Madinah to Muslims worldwide.