Bangladesh and Türkiye on Friday pledged to deepen strategic cooperation, expand trade and investment, and explore a free trade arrangement as the two countries moved to elevate their longstanding ties to a broader strategic partnership.
The commitments came during bilateral talks between Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Dhaka, where both sides identified trade, investment, defence cooperation and regional issues as key areas for enhanced collaboration.
Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Dr Khalilur Rahman said the visit marked a significant moment in Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and reflected the shared determination of both countries to take their partnership to a new strategic level.
"We emphasized that this visit demonstrates the commitment of both countries to deepening cooperation and elevating our bilateral relations to new heights," he said.
The foreign minister said discussions were held in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect, underscoring the strong historical bonds between the two nations.
Economic cooperation featured prominently in the talks, with both sides agreeing to work towards increasing bilateral trade to US$2 billion from the current volume of around US$1.3 billion. They also discussed the possibility of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to facilitate greater trade and investment flows.
Dr Rahman invited Turkish businesses to invest in Bangladesh's economic zones and proposed establishing a dedicated Turkish Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the country. He also called for stronger engagement by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in trade, investment and industrial partnerships.
According to him, sectors with strong potential for Turkish investment include textiles and apparel, defence manufacturing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy, information and communication technology (ICT), and smart technologies.
The foreign minister also sought Turkish cooperation in establishing an international-standard hospital and nursing institute in Dhaka and requested additional scholarships for Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education in Türkiye.
Noting that around 3,000 Bangladeshis, mostly students, currently reside in Türkiye, he called for simplified visa procedures to facilitate tourism, education, business travel and cultural exchanges.
On the Rohingya issue, Dr Rahman reiterated that the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar with full citizenship rights remains the only durable solution to the crisis. He thanked Türkiye for its continued humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support.
For his part, Hakan Fidan described Bangladesh as an important regional partner and reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, particularly defence industries, trade, investment and technology.
He said Bangladesh and Türkiye, as influential voices of the Global South, shared similar perspectives on many regional and international issues and would continue to work closely on matters of mutual interest.
On the Rohingya crisis, Fidan praised Bangladesh for hosting more than one million displaced Rohingyas and reiterated Ankara's support for their safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar.
"Bangladesh has undertaken a historic humanitarian responsibility. We highly appreciate its efforts and will continue our support," he said.
The Turkish foreign minister also discussed regional and global developments, including the conflicts in the Middle East, stressing the need for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve disputes and promote stability.
Fidan arrived in Dhaka on Thursday night on a two-day official visit. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar, highlighting Türkiye's continued support for humanitarian efforts in Bangladesh.
