State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir has declared that Bangladesh will not compromise on the security of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, affirming readiness to provide necessary support to Saudi Arabia if officially requested, in the wake of missile and drone attacks by Yemen's Houthi armed group.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka following a seminar titled "From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: Reimagining Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Relations," the state minister emphasized that the stability of the Middle East is vital for the global Muslim population. The seminar was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and North South University.
Highlighting Bangladesh's extensive peacekeeping experience under the United Nations, Kabir suggested that deploying this expertise could foster positive contributions toward establishing peace and stability in the region. He also termed the initiative behind the Mecca Accord highly positive, confirming that Bangladesh has already expressed its keen interest in joining the pact.
Addressing inquiries regarding potential military deployment to Saudi Arabia, the state minister reiterated that the government stands prepared to extend any necessary assistance requested by Riyadh to safeguard the holy sites. He noted that bilateral ties are undergoing a strategic transformation, shifting away from a traditional reliance solely on labor migration and remittance toward a modern, multidimensional partnership encompassing energy, technology, and foreign investment.
Elaborating on deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation, Kabir pointed to a steady surge in high-level exchanges between Dhaka and Riyadh, with forthcoming ministerial visits in the pipeline. He stressed that Bangladesh aims to move beyond aid-dependent frameworks to build a dignified, sustainable investment partnership. Furthermore, he confirmed that a visit by the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia is officially scheduled, though the exact dates remain to be finalized and will be announced in due course.
