Bangladesh has added its voice to a growing chorus of condemnation following a reported drone attack near Islam’s holiest city.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, on Wednesday, strongly condemned the reported drone attack on the Holy City of Makkah Al-Mukarramah. The ministry said Bangladesh reaffirmed its deep respect for the sanctity of Makkah Al-Mukarramah and the other Holy Sites in the Kingdom, and said it stood with Saudi Arabia and its people in protecting the sites. The statement demanded the full respect and protection of the safety and security of the Holy Sites at all times.
What Reported to Have Happened
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said Tuesday evening that Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah. The accusation was dismissed as a fabrication by the Houthis, an Iran-backed group that controls most of western Yemen. There was no threat to the holy sites from Yemen at all, said military spokesman Yahya Sarea, maintaining that the group’s operations are directed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases far from religious sites. He said the Houthis had launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for more than 450 Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territory over the past week, and said the group had shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province.
A wave of condemnation across the Muslim world
Bangladesh was not the only one. Similar statements came from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and a string of Muslim-majority countries. The internationally recognised Foreign Ministry of Yemen described the attack as a terrorist attempt, saying it was a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and an assault on the site of revelation and the qibla of Muslims. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the step as a flagrant violation of international law and declared its full solidarity with Riyadh. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attempted attack as “dastardly and heinous” and said that Pakistan stood with Saudi Arabia steadfastly in defending the sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim took a different tone, urging restraint and immediate dialogue to avoid further escalation in the region.
Discover More Stories Worth Your Time
See Which Foods Ease Seasonal Changes?
Explore five comforting foods that can help you feel your best.
Explore Why Wages Stay Frozen?
Discover how stagnant minimum wages are affecting Bangladesh’s garment workers and families.
Check How Conflict Hurts Jobs?
Explore why Middle East tensions could threaten Bangladesh’s jobs and poverty gains.
Learn How To Spot H1N1?
Discover H1N1 symptoms, prevention tips, and essential facts for Bangladesh.
Find Which Netflix Picks Worth Watching?
Discover binge-worthy Netflix choices for a relaxing weekend at home.
Part of a larger standoff
This was not an isolated incident. The development comes as a conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis escalates, with hundreds of Saudi air strikes hitting Houthi territory in the past week alone, and the Houthis responding with drone and missile attacks. Saudi military officials have warned they will not hesitate to take further deterrent measures against what they describe as the group’s hostile and terrorist behaviour.
Why Bangladesh’s Voice Matters Here Bangladesh has the world’s fourth-largest Muslim population and millions of Bangladeshis travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah every year. Within the country, claims about the safety of Makkah and Madinah have a special significance, as they relate to a religious feeling common in the whole country. The foreign ministry in Bangladesh condemned the incident in those very terms, stressing the sanctity of the sites and not taking a side in the larger Saudi-Houthi conflict underpinning the incident.
What Comes Next
For the time being, the immediate row is still a war of words between Riyadh and the Houthis, with neither side backing down from its version of events. The broader Muslim world, including Bangladesh, is likely to continue responding in the coming days depending on whether the reported attack is an indication of a turn toward more direct threats against religious sites or is simply an isolated and contested incident.
