Troops will be sent to KSA, if needed

Hasina tells cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday that armed forces would be sent to Saudi Arabia to protect two holy mosques—Al-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in Mecca and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Medina—if needed. She told this to ministers at a cabinet meeting held in Parliament. Later, Cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the Secretariat. He said the government will send armed forces to Saudi Arabia to protect the two holy mosques if they are attacked.
After a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister had said at a press briefing at Gana Bhaban on June 8 that she assured the Saudi king that Bangladesh would support the fight against terrorism and for protection of the two holy mosques. "We're even prepared to provide military support for protecting the two holy shrines of Mecca and Medina under the Riyadh-led 34-nation coalition against terrorism and violent extremism,” she had asserted.
Before the visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali had told a briefing that they would send troops to Saudi Arabia on a voluntary basis, as no country is obligated to do anything. “When Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, attacked Kuwait, we sent soldiers. We sent soldiers to protect the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there’s an instance in the past as to what we can do,” he explained.
During the first Gulf War (August 2, 1990–February 28, 1991), Bangladesh had sent soldiers to Kuwait.
On December 15 last year, Bangladesh decided to join a Saudi Arabia-led 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism and militancy, in line with Sheikh Hasina’s "zero tolerance" policy against terrorism and violent extremism.
On December 14 last year, Saudi Arabia had announced a 34-state military alliance to fight terrorism. The 34 nations are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinians, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

 

Troops will be sent to KSA, if needed

Hasina tells cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said yesterday that armed forces would be sent to Saudi Arabia to protect two holy mosquesAl-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) in Mecca and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophets Mosque) in Medinaif needed. She told this to ministers at a cabinet meeting held in Parliament. Later, Cabinet secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters at the Secretariat. He said the government will send armed forces to Saudi Arabia to protect the two holy mosques if they are attacked. After a five-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister had said at a press briefing at Gana Bhaban on June 8 that she assured the Saudi king that Bangladesh would support the fight against terrorism and for protection of the two holy mosques. Were even prepared to provide military support for protecting the two holy shrines of Mecca and Medina under the Riyadh-led 34-nation coalition against terrorism and violent extremism, she had asserted. Before the visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali had told a briefing that they would send troops to Saudi Arabia on a voluntary basis, as no country is obligated to do anything. When Iraq, led by Saddam Hussein, attacked Kuwait, we sent soldiers. We sent soldiers to protect the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, theres an instance in the past as to what we can do, he explained. During the first Gulf War (August 2, 1990February 28, 1991), Bangladesh had sent soldiers to Kuwait. On December 15 last year, Bangladesh decided to join a Saudi Arabia-led 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism and militancy, in line with Sheikh Hasinas zero tolerance policy against terrorism and violent extremism. On December 14 last year, Saudi Arabia had announced a 34-state military alliance to fight terrorism. The 34 nations are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Palestinians, Qatar, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.