There seems to be a lot of brouhaha over Bangladesh joining the Mecca Pact, which includes Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan. Naturally, when Pakistan is involved, a feeling of disquiet in India is nothing surprising. Some geopolitical analysts are trying to stir up a feeling of consternation, stating indirectly that such a pact may be harmful. Harmful for whom?
As far as one can see, Bangladesh has nothing to lose here. In fact, by entering into such a pact, the country will only be reinforcing the ‘Bangladesh First’ principle which has been the rallying point of the democratically elected government. Let’s get to the matter of what this association may bring for Bangladesh in the long run a little later.
From a layperson’s perspective, the idea that Bangladesh has decided to enter a pact with other Muslim nations indicates a firm foreign affairs stance. The unequivocal message: we will do what is in our interest. For too long, foreign policy plus international engagement of Bangladesh had been somewhat muted and subservient.
A few days ago, the government declared that Bangladesh would be purchasing Chinese J10 fighter planes, also used by Pakistan. As part of the Mecca pact, there may be collaborative training, and having similar planes will be beneficial in the long run. Pakistan has been using this fighter for some time, and therefore, their experts can easily provide the necessary support/training to the Bangladesh Air Force once the planes are purchased. Turkish Bayraktar drones are affordable, and Bangladesh, as a member of the pact, can set up drone manufacturing factories in Bangladesh where they may be produced at a lower cost.
The talk about the Mecca Pact evokes memories of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), formed in 1954 with Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Formed during the height of Cold War paranoia, the sole purpose of this body was to contain the spread of Communism across Asia, although it was deemed effete in the 70s and was finally dismantled in 1977.
However, Pakistan, especially East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), got a massive benefit from this accord because, under SEATO’s cultural and research support, a Cholera research centre was established in Dhaka, which is known across the world now as ICDDRB. As a member of the pact, Bangladesh may become the country to house factories for jointly manufactured products plus human skill development centres, keeping the Saudi labour market in perspective.
This involvement is also significant from another angle because Muslim nations need a visible/influential alliance on the world stage. Doomsayers might try to dig out a terrorist angle here and create a picture of despair, although an alliance of several Muslim nations can work to amplify a united stance, ensuring global leverage. Both Türkiye and Pakistan have credentials for manufacturing high-tech weapons, and if these countries can tap into the large workforce in Bangladesh, a variety of cutting-edge tech-driven equipment can be produced at a competitive rate.
Leaving aside the military angle, if sport, especially football, is explored under this pact, the biggest beneficiaries will be Pakistan and Bangladesh. With Turkish and Saudi assistance, football talent hunt academies can add momentum to the game triggered by the inclusion of foreign-based Bangladeshi players.
Bangladesh, looking to diversify exports, will have access to markets for medicine, bicycles, wigs, jute products, steel, footwear, caps, etc. While trade, arms, and sports are mostly on our minds, the small factor of entertainment is often neglected. Once, it was a trend among movie makers in Bangladesh to go to foreign lands to shoot films. Under this pact, all members can open up their countries to showcase their respective natural splendour to be used as settings for movie plots.
Speaking for Bangladesh, while we always take pride in possessing the biggest unbroken sea beach, very few foreign films have been shot at Cox’s Bazar.
Well, this is the chance! Bangladesh’s entry into this pact is needed, irrespective of what others are saying. We will do what serves our purpose, and we will do it our way – in the end, that will be the enduring message.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The author is a freelance writer
