United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Türkiye on Saturday reached an understanding to form ministerial-level joint committees to strengthen cooperation in defence and political areas. The understanding came when visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing. During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold Annual Foreign Office Consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers. They also decided that annual 2+2 consultations will be held involving Foreign and Defence Ministers of both sides in order to further deepen strategic relations. During the meeting, Minister Fidan conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's greetings to Prime Minister Rahman. He said his visit constituted the first step towards elevating Bangladesh–Türkiye relations to a strategic level. Besides, with a view to further strengthening political, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries, a consultation mechanism in the form of a committee would be established under the respective Foreign Ministers which will involve the ministries concerned of each side, said the PM’s Press Wing. Discussions focused particularly on the Rohingya issue, climate change, trade and investment, joint production and cooperation, and regional and international matters of mutual interest.

In a move for international sports diplomacy, Bangladesh and Türkiye have officially signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of sports. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Hoque and Osman Askin Bak, Minister for Youth and Sports of Türkiye signed the MoU on behalf of their respective filed, marking a new era of friendship, focusing on youth development, professional athletic exchange, and the modernisation of sports governance between the two brotherly nations. The MoU outlined a multifaceted framework for collaboration, prioritising the exchange of knowledge and expertise. Both nations committed to reciprocal visits of senior officials and experts to share best practices in the organisation and financing of major sports competitions. Meanwhile, the MoU emphasised the management and financing of world-class sports infrastructure, ensuring that both countries can benefit from shared technical data and teaching materials. In a significant commitment to social inclusion, the MoU highlighted the exchange of best practices for support programs and sports accessibility for persons with impairments and ensuring the highest standards of integrity and ethics in their respective sporting environment. This milestone MoU is expected to significantly boost the performance of athletes on the global stage while fostering a deeper cultural understanding through the universal language of sports.