Highlighting the importance of joint efforts to advance peace, stability, and economic prosperity, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Friday said Bangladesh and Türkiye identified key sectors for Turkish investment, including textiles and apparel, defence manufacturing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy, ICT, and smart technologies, with a view to elevating bilateral relations to new heights.
“Bangladesh will continue to play an active and responsible role in international forums, working together with partners and friends like Türkiye to promote peace, stability, economic progress, shared prosperity, wider cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, and sustainable development,” he said, noting that they believe multilateral cooperation is essential in addressing the global challenges of the time.
The foreign minister made the remarks while speaking at a joint press briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Hakan Fidan at a city hotel following a bilateral meeting.
Khalilur Rahman said they emphasised that the visit comes at a significant moment of Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and demonstrates the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation and elevate the bilateral partnership to a strategic level.
Different bilateral, regional and global issues, including Rohingya crisis, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA), were discussed at the meeting.
As per the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Khalilur Rahman said, they shed light on the possibility to sign an FTA with Türkiye.
“Alternatively, we also discussed possibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement. We discussed about the scope to promote bilateral trade,” he said, noting that there is a steady growth in bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Türkiye.
The two countries vowed to work towards further increasing the trade volume to US$ 2 billion from the existing $ 1.3 billion.
Khalilur Rahman apprised his Turkish counterpart of the incentives for foreign investors in Bangladesh and invited the prospective Turkish investors to invest in different Private Economic Zones and Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh.
“We offered our support towards Türkiye to establish a dedicated SEZ in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that they also requested expansion of cooperation by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) towards investment, trade, and industrial partnerships, taking advantage of Bangladesh's current political stability, business-friendly environment, and growing market.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said they are continuing their efforts to strengthen relationship with Bangladesh and take it to new heights.
He extended his country’s support to Bangladesh in ensuring voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland.
Hakan Fidan said Bangladesh has demonstrated a historical sacrifice and appreciated its efforts to address the Rohingya issue.
The Turkish foreign minister is now in Dhaka on a two-day visit at the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart. He will also meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Hakan Fidan also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where he inspected humanitarian assistance projects carried out by the TIKA, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Türkiye, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Diyanet Foundation and Türkiye's Health Ministry, and visited the Turkish Field Hospital operating in the camps.
“The engagement (Friday morning) truly reflects the long-standing partnership between Bangladesh and Türkiye. We have been maintaining extraordinary relationship with Turkiye,” Khalilur Rahman said.
The two sides believe that this visit will deepen and widen mutually beneficial cooperation, collaboration, and understanding between the two countries.
The foreign minister expressed Bangladesh’s gratitude to the Turkish government for its substantial support for Bangladesh's candidature for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. “We are very pleased to receiving you in Dhaka after winning the UN PGA81.”
He said the foreign policy of the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is guided by the philosophy: 'Bangladesh Before All’.
“This principle reflects our resolute commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty, national interests and the welfare of our people. At the same time, it also reflects our belief that beyond our borders we have friends and partners, not masters,” said Khalilur Rahman.
Bangladesh believes strongly in diplomacy based on equality, fairness, and mutual respect, he said. “We are committed to building constructive bilateral and multilateral relations with all countries of the world.”
