Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to discuss enhancing cooperation across various sectors. The meeting, which aimed at bolstering Bangladesh-Turkey relations, focused on expanding trade, investment, and addressing mutual concerns. Both leaders agreed to conduct annual foreign office consultations at the ministerial level and hold 2+2 consultations involving foreign and defense ministers.
The recent engagements signal a shift in Bangladesh’s political alignments post the fall of the Awami League government, showcasing a pivot towards countries like Turkey and Pakistan. In a separate meeting, Fidan also interacted with a delegation from the National Citizen Party, acknowledging their role in the political landscape. Furthermore, discussions with a delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami emphasized cooperation in industry, trade, education, healthcare, and defense.
During his visit, Fidan reiterated Turkey’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh, particularly in the defense sector. His engagements included visiting a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar to observe Turkish agencies’ activities and services provided by Turkish institutions. Concerns have been raised about Turkey’s regional engagements and potential impact on stability due to its ideological motivations and military links in South Asia.
