Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Bangladesh Weighs Mecca Pact Amid Tensions With India
Bangladesh is thinking about joining a defence or economic agreement involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye.
The agreement says that an attack on one member would be treated as an attack on all three.
Bangladesh says it will decide based on its own interests.
Bangladesh is also improving its relationships with Pakistan and China.
At the same time, Bangladesh and India are having serious disagreements.
Bangladesh objects to India allowing Sheikh Hasina to remain there and engage in political and media activities.
Because of these disagreements, Bangladesh’s leader is not expected to visit India soon.
Bangladesh says a visit would need better conditions and agreement on important issues first.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh is open to joining an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye.
Kabir said Dhaka would assess the pact according to Bangladesh’s interests and changing global economic and trade conditions.
Bangladesh is strengthening trade and people-to-people ties with Pakistan, while relations with China have reached what Kabir called a “new height.”
Kabir said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India is unlikely soon unless New Delhi changes its approach and creates an appropriate environment.
A major dispute involves Sheikh Hasina’s presence and political or media activities in India after fleeing Bangladesh following the July mass uprising.
- Who
- Bangladesh, represented by Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, along with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye, India, China, Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
- What
- Bangladesh said it is open to joining the Mecca pact while reassessing its relations with India, Pakistan and China.
- When
- Kabir made the comments in an interview on Thursday; Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed the pact earlier this month.
- Where
- The pact was signed in Mecca, and the diplomatic tensions concern Bangladesh, India and Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India.
- Why
- Bangladesh says it will consider the pact based on its national interests and changing global economic and trade conditions, while disagreements with India center on Hasina and the terms of a possible visit by Rahman.
Bangladesh’s Position
India-Related Position
Joining the Mecca pact
Bangladesh’s Position
Bangladesh is open to joining an economic or defence framework with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye if doing so serves its interests.
India-Related Position
The article does not provide an Indian response to Bangladesh’s consideration of joining the framework.
Tarique Rahman’s India visit
Bangladesh’s Position
Kabir said there is no justification for rushing into a top-level visit and that conditions, consensus on specific issues and a dignified invitation are needed.
India-Related Position
The article reports that Bangladesh wants New Delhi to change its approach, but it does not include a detailed Indian government position on the proposed visit.
Sheikh Hasina’s activities in India
Bangladesh’s Position
Bangladesh says India’s provision of political or media space to Hasina has angered millions of Bangladeshis and conflicts with democratic and diplomatic norms.
India-Related Position
India’s justification or official response to allowing Hasina to use its territory for political and media activities is not stated in the article.
- Pact members
- Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan
- Pact commitment
- An armed attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all three
- Bangladesh’s position
- Open to considering an economic or defence framework involving the three countries
- Pakistan relations
- Dhaka is strengthening trade and people-to-people connectivity with Islamabad
- China relations
- Kabir described ties with Beijing as reaching a “new height”
- India visit
- A visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is considered unlikely without an appropriate environment and agreement on key issues
- Central dispute
- Bangladesh criticizes India for allowing Sheikh Hasina political and media space after she fled the country