Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia held their first Joint Committee Meeting on Defense Cooperation in Dhaka

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have conducted their first Joint Committee meeting to strengthen their ties in Defense on 8 May 2025. Dhaka was the host for the first meeting with Major General Ibrahim Al- Khalidi, assistant chief of training development of the armed forces of Saudi Arabia in attendance. 

The Saudi Arabia official was present in the nation for a three day diplomatic visit leading the Saudi Delegation for three day talk earlier this week. He was also joined by Lt. Gen. S.M. Kamrul Hassan, principal staff officer of Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Division during the discussion.

“This is the first time that Bangladesh held a Joint Committee Defense Cooperation meeting with Saudi Arabia. Both countries have signed a protocol on Thursday aimed at proceeding further with the discussions held on Tuesday in Dhaka”, told Lt. Colonel Sami-Ud-Dowla Chowdhury, director of Bangladeshi military’s media wing ISPR, while speaking with Arab News. 

The joint meeting happened as the result of Bangladesh Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan who visited the Saudi Arabian Kingdom in February. The countries also signed a protocol regarding the matters of discussion on Tuesday and the joint defense cooperation will cover several areas like arms procurement, indigenous production capabilities, joint training and others. 

Bangladesh is currently ranked at number three in the troop contributing to the UN peacekeeping mission with providing 5,600 personnel as of February. Such operational expertise from Bangladesh could be shared with Saudi Arabia for a better doctrine of Military understanding, discussed Lieutenant Colonel Sami-Ud-Dowla Chowdhury, director of Bangladeshi military’s media wing ISPR.