United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Türkiye are looking for stronger trade and investment ties, with both sides expressing interest in expanding economic cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration. The issues came up during a bilateral meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Prof Dr Omer Bolat and Bangladesh’s Information Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam, held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 in Türkiye on Friday. The two sides discussed key issues related to bilateral trade, investment opportunities and sectoral cooperation. Adviser Mahfuj Alam urged Turkish businesses to take advantage of Bangladesh’s economic zones, noting the government's efforts to create a favourable climate for foreign investors. Prof Dr Omer Bolat reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to deepening its commercial partnership with Bangladesh, calling the relationship “historical and built on mutual respect.” Bangladesh seeks Slovak investment, worker recruitment He also proposed convening a meeting of the Türkiye-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission in Dhaka later this year, aiming to facilitate structured dialogue on economic collaboration. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 has brought together global leaders, ministers, and policymakers to engage on major international issues. For Bangladesh and Türkiye, the meeting signals renewed momentum to unlock untapped trade potential and foster long-term economic ties.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, now visiting Turkey, on Friday emphasised that accountability for the crimes against humanity perpetrated against the Rohingya community is a crucial factor in ensuring justice and the ultimate resolution of the crisis. He reassured that Bangladesh would continue to lend its unwavering support for the just cause of establishing an independent Palestinian state in accordance with multiple UN resolutions. On the sidelines of the ‘Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025’  Hossain had a meeting with Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Karim A.A. Khan KC and discussed the issue. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam, Bangladesh Ambassador to Türkiye and other senior officials from both sides attended the meeting.      Hossain expressed deepest sympathy over the suffering of the people of Palestine in the recent aggression. Top CICA official lauds Dhaka's role in confidence building in Asia The meeting discussed all aspects of engagements between Bangladesh and ICC. The prosecutor of ICC lauded Bangladesh’s unwavering stance for the cause of the international justice system, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The foreign adviser expressed Bangladesh’s continued support to the Rome Statute and to the ICC. He said Bangladesh’s interest in exploring tangible cooperation with ICC in training and skilling experts, academics, jurists. He appreciated ICC for its stance vis-a-vis on the situation in the Rohingya crisis and Gaza. Both sides agreed to further enhance the level of existing engagements in the coming days.    

Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan has said his country is determined to develop its partnership with Bangladesh further based on shared interests and for the mutual well-being of people in the coming days. "Our economic development trajectories bode well for a promising future. We will be stronger in every field if we develop our partnership further on this solid foundation," he said. Türkiye is best placed to understand Bangladesh and always stands in solidarity with the government of Bangladesh in the years to come, said the ambassador. In a message marking the Turkish National Day, Ambassador Turan said Turkish investors have already recognized Bangladesh as a land of opportunities, and invested in key sectors of the economy such as energy, consumer goods and ready made garments. "Our trade is booming despite pandemic, expected to reach 1.5 billion USD in 2022," he said, adding that Turkish Airlines have increased the number of their flights to 14 a week. Businesses from the two countries are meeting at online and offline B2B meetings. The envoy highlighted another shared value the two countries have: hospitality towards foreigners and particularly those in need. Both of the countries host millions of refugees, 4 million Syrians in Türkiye and over 1 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh. "We set the standards for humanity in taking care of the vulnerable people fleeing persecution and violence," said  Turan. He said 99 years ago, Turkish Grand National Assembly proclaimed the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye. "This was possible thanks to the sacrifices made by the Turkish nation and the Independence War led by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founding Father of the Republic of Türkiye," said the envoy. Read: Bangladeshi students accorded reception by High Commission in Turkey Turkish people were victorious against the foreign armies also because of the support extended by friendly nations around the world. "Bengali nation was one of them. We will never forget the helping hand of our Bengali brothers and sisters during our most  difficult times," Ambassador Turan said. Turkish War of Independence and establishment of the Republic of Türkiye in October 1923 had sparked joy and inspiration for other nations under occupation at the time. Kazi Nazrul Islam, the revolutionary poet of Bengal, had expressed his admiration for Mustafa Kemal in his epic poem titled “Kemal Pasha”. "His name is given to the most prestigious avenues in Dhaka and Chattogram and a high school in Feni as a sign of respect for what he stood for, freedom and independence," said the Turkish envoy. "Today, rising on the legacy of our Founding Fathers, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, both Türkiye and Bangladesh are thriving countries," he said. On 20 October 2021, the two countries have launched the Bangladesh-Türkiye Business Forum (BTBF) in Dhaka. Bringing together six major Turkish companies operating in Bangladesh and eleven prominent Bangladeshi companies who are doing business with Türkiye, BTBF will promote better economic and trade relations between the two countries and facilitate partnerships based on our shared values, said Ambassador Turan. "Indeed, our shared values date back to the times of Hazrat Shah Jalal, whose mother was from Konya, the Turkish city where Hazrat Mawlana Jelaleddin Rumi lived and died," said the envoy who visited Sylhet, the city of saints, where Hazrat Shah Jalal’s shrine is revered and visited by millions who respect him and his wisdom. "Konya and Sylhet are sister cities, bringing us closer," he added.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan has said Bangladesh and Turkey hold enormous potentials in the arena of bilateral trade to explore and the target of US$ 2 billion trade, which was mutually set earlier, could easily be achieved.