“Under the MoU, there’s a firm conviction not to take any measure against any third party,” he said joining the general discussion on thanksgiving motion on the President’s speech in the House.
“Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have signed no agreement over troop deployment. Rather an MoU has been inked on defence affairs,” he said adding that signing the MoU has in no way violated the Constitution of Bangladesh.
“So, no question can be raised ….it didn’t violate Article 25 of the Constitution through this MoU,” the Foreign Minister told the House.
The main theme of this MoU is to contribute towards enhancing international stability through mutual cooperation, he said.
According to the MoU, the defence forces of the two countries will cooperate with each other in military trainings, exercise, education, medical treatment, research and defence industry, exchange military information, intelligence information, military visits and skills, and participate in sociocultural activities, he said.
Under the MoU, the signatories to it will also cooperate with each other in different areas, including military protection and facing pirates, Dr Momen said.
He said the Saudi Arabia is very friendly with Bangladesh in facing international terrorism.
Following the request of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh has promised to extend its hands of cooperation in case of facing any possible threat on the two holy mosques -- Makkah and Medina -- he added.
The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to upholding the dignity of the Constitution.
On February 14 last, two senior MPs -- Rashed Khan Menon and Fakhrul Imam-- in Parliament demanded a statement from the Foreign Minister whether the signing of a ‘defence pact’ between Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not contradictory to the Constitution.