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Bangladesh should not rush into joining the Makkah Defence Pact and should make any decision based on political consensus, a thorough assessment of risks and benefits, and adequate diplomatic preparations, security experts said on Monday.
They made the remarks at a discussion titled “Bangladesh’s Possible Joining of the Makkah Defence Pact: Strategic National Security Calculations”, organised by Voice for Reform in Dhaka.
Maj Gen (retd) Fazle Elahi Akbar said membership could strengthen Bangladesh’s defence capabilities through improved equipment supply, military cooperation, joint training, intelligence sharing and greater interoperability with member states.
However, he cautioned that the move could also create strategic risks, including changes in how India assesses Bangladesh in its military planning and uncertainty over the future US position.
Former diplomat Sakib Ali said joining the pact would not automatically resolve Bangladesh’s security challenges. He called for a proper cost-benefit analysis and greater transparency before any decision is taken.
University of Dhaka professor Sajjad Siddiqui also urged caution, saying the government should hold wider consultations with parliamentarians and experts to build national consensus.
International relations professor Shahab Enam Khan said the pact’s collective-response provision should not be equated with NATO’s Article 5, as it does not necessarily require automatic military action against an attacker. He supported considering membership, but stressed the need for political consensus and diplomatic preparation.
Former US Embassy deputy chief John F Danilovich described the pact as an important test of the BNP government’s “Bangladesh First” policy, saying the decision would show how the policy translates into concrete strategic choices.