Badal slams 'defence deal with KSA'

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal lawmaker Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal in parliament last night opposed the “signing of a defence pact” between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, saying it may invite danger for the country.

Speaking on a point of order, he urged the Speaker to examine whether the constitution was violated “through inking the deal”.

Badal, a ruling coalition MP, said Bangladesh should not engage in any conflicting issue without the UN mandate.

Mentioning that Riyadh will provide Bangladesh Tk 500 crore annually for removing mines from the Yemen border, he questioned why Saudi Arabia itself is not doing the dangerous job since it is their own problem.

“It's very dangerous to get involved in such a conflict. The MPs are facing various questions at home and abroad following the signing of the deal. So parliament should have its own views in this regard.”

Earlier on February 14, two senior lawmakers -- Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Party leader Fakhrul Imam -- in parliament demanded a statement from the foreign minister on the “defence pact”.

The same day, Bangladesh had signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia, aiming at enhancing military cooperation between the two countries.

Principal Staff Officer Lt Gen Md Mahfuzur Rahman of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh and Deputy Chief of Staff of Saudi Armed Forces Lt Gen Mutlaqbin Salim Al-azaima singed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides at the Saudi Ministry of Defence in Riyadh, says Bangladesh Embassy in the KSA.

Under the MoU, the two countries will help each other in military training, practice and education, military information and intelligence, defence industry, supply and maintenance, visit and exchange of experiences, military treatment and research, sports, social and cultural activities, science and technology, exchange of military members, marine security and cooperation to stop piracy, according to media reports.