Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Bangladesh’s possible accession to the Mecca Pact is solely the country’s own matter. In a Facebook post published at about 11:45am on Thursday, he said no one else needs to feel discomfort if Bangladesh makes a decision based on the needs and interests of the country and nation.

Discussion has recently emerged over whether Bangladesh may join the Mecca joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Opinions have already been expressed both in favour of and against Bangladesh joining the arrangement.

The joint defence agreement was signed in Mecca on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. Under the agreement, a military attack on any one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all three countries.