Bangladesh seeks defence cooperation from Turkey

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought cooperation from Turkey in the defense sector in addition to economic and social cooperation, according to UNB. She made the suggestion during a meeting with outgoing Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan on December 27, 2022.

The Turkish ambassador mentioned that his country is interested in strengthening Bangladesh Turkey defence cooperation.

It is worth noting that Bangladesh signed a defense purchase agreement with Turkey in June 2021, which included the import of various equipment from Roketsan, a Turkish military hardware company and contractor. Local experts believe that these products will equip the Bangladesh Armed Forces with NATO-standard air, land, and naval warfare capabilities.

Apart from strengthening Bangladesh-Turkey defence cooperation, Sheikh Hasina also requested that Turkey put pressure on Myanmar to take back the Rohingya, as over 1 million Rohingya have become a serious burden for Bangladesh. The ambassador assured the Prime Minister of his country’s continuous support.

Hasina mentioned that Bangladesh and Turkey have historical and cultural ties and that Bangladesh wants more cooperation from Turkey in areas such as investment and business in order to face the challenges ahead as the country works towards graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.

She emphasized the importance of holding the Joint Economic Commission meeting in Bangladesh to facilitate dialogue on enhancing business and trade between the two countries. The last Commission meeting was held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2019.

The Turkish ambassador expressed enthusiasm about the government-sponsored 100 economic zones in Bangladesh, which he stated are attracting more Turkish investment. He mentioned that two Turkish companies have already invested $850 million in the economic zones in 2022.

The ambassador also praised the Prime Minister’s idea of establishing a Smart Bangladesh and stated that Turkey will extend its cooperation in this regard, and the idea will also be subscribed to in Turkey.

Annual trade between Bangladesh and Turkey is expected to reach $1.5 billion in 2022, with both countries aiming to reach the $2 billion mark in the coming years.

In July 2022, the countries launched the Bangladesh-Türkiye Business Forum (BTBF) in Dhaka, which brings together six major Turkish companies operating in Bangladesh and eleven prominent Bangladeshi companies. The BTBF aims to promote better economic and trade relations between the countries and facilitate partnerships based on shared values. Turan also mentioned that there are other areas, such as tourism and education, where cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey could be further expanded.

It may be mentioned here that Istanbul was one of the top destinations for Bangladeshi tourists in 2022. Turkish Airlines have increased the number of their flights to 14 times a week.

Turan sought a suitable location in Bangladesh for establishing a super-specialized hospital. In response, Hasina suggested Purbachal or a location near the Padma Bridge, stating that this would improve healthcare services for the people of the country’s southern region.

The Turkish ambassador expressed hope that Hasina will be re-elected and form the government again in the next general election.