Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening relations with Bangladesh — pledging greater cooperation in trade, defence, humanitarian work and regional diplomacy, while supporting Dhaka’s efforts on the Rohingya crisis and global peace initiatives. At a joint press conference in Dhaka with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Friday (5 June), Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: “We are continuing to try to deepen our long-standing partnership on a broader scale, and we want to raise it to a stronger and more far-sighted level on a firm footing.”
Congratulating Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Fidan said it reflected the world’s deep respect for Bangladesh. Given Bangladesh’s active role at the UN and Dr Khalilur Rahman’s experience, the Turkish minister said, he would carry out the responsibility successfully. Fidan recalled that Dr Khalilur Rahman had recently visited Turkey, underscoring the two countries’ shared resolve to deepen relations through high-level bilateral visits. He said the meeting had covered bilateral relations, cooperation in international bodies, and the regional and global situation in detail.
On economic cooperation, Fidan said the two countries are moving to raise bilateral trade from 1.3 billion US dollars to two billion dollars, and that the defence industry had been identified as a promising sector. As part of the visit, Turkey and Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in preserving cultural heritage. Calling Bangladesh “a strong voice of the Global South,” Fidan said the country is strategically very important for peace, stability and security in South Asia.
On the Rohingya crisis, he said Bangladesh had made a historic humanitarian sacrifice by sheltering more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya. He assured that Turkey would continue diplomatic efforts to keep the Rohingya issue active on the international stage and would support their safe, dignified and voluntary return to Myanmar. Fidan is to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and observe the humanitarian work of Turkish bodies — TIKA, AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent and the Diyanet Foundation.
On the regional situation, he said growing conflict and instability are affecting global dynamics and raising the risk of a wider regional conflict. He welcomed progress in the Iran-US talks and voiced hope for lasting peace and stability, noting that ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and a return to the pre-war situation are vital for the global economy and for energy and food security. On Gaza, Fidan accused Israel of obstructing ceasefire efforts and called on the world community to take a united stand, saying its priority should be to stop Israeli aggression and end the war in the region. Fidan added that Turkey would strengthen bilateral relations with Bangladesh through new initiatives and projects, and would work to enhance peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia and beyond.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report