Bangladesh and Türkiye have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation and expand investment ties, identifying a range of sectors for future collaboration as the two countries seek to elevate their relationship to a strategic level.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Dhaka on Friday after a bilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said both sides had identified textiles and apparel, defence manufacturing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy, information and communication technology, and smart technologies as priority areas for Turkish investment.
He said the visit came at an important moment in Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and reflected the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation and take their partnership to a new level.
The meeting covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the Rohingya crisis, a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and a Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA). Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh, following directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had discussed the possibility of signing an FTA with Türkiye. As an alternative, both sides also explored the scope for a PTA to boost bilateral trade.
Trade between the two countries has been growing steadily, and both governments agreed to work towards increasing bilateral trade volume to US$2 billion from the current US$1.3 billion.
The foreign minister briefed his Turkish counterpart on investment incentives available in Bangladesh and invited Turkish investors to establish operations in the country’s private and special economic zones. He also proposed the creation of a dedicated Turkish Special Economic Zone in Bangladesh.
Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh had requested the expansion of activities by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in the areas of investment, trade and industrial partnerships, highlighting the country's political stability, business-friendly environment and expanding consumer market.
Hakan Fidan said Türkiye would continue efforts to strengthen relations with Bangladesh and take bilateral cooperation to greater heights. He also reiterated Ankara’s support for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
The Turkish foreign minister praised Bangladesh’s response to the Rohingya crisis, saying the country had made a historic sacrifice by hosting displaced people. Khalilur Rahman stressed that the crisis remained one of Bangladesh’s most pressing humanitarian and diplomatic challenges and said the country could not continue hosting large numbers of displaced people indefinitely. He said Bangladesh remained committed to working with all stakeholders to secure a durable and peaceful solution.
The foreign minister expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support on the Rohingya issue. During his visit, Hakan Fidan travelled to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar, where he inspected aid projects implemented by TIKA, Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Diyanet Foundation and the Turkish Health Ministry. He also visited the Turkish Field Hospital operating in the camps.
Khalilur Rahman described the relationship between the two countries as longstanding and strong, saying the visit would further deepen cooperation and mutual understanding.
He also thanked the Turkish government for supporting Bangladesh’s successful bid for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Outlining Dhaka’s foreign policy priorities, the foreign minister said the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was guided by the principle of “Bangladesh Before All”, aimed at protecting the country’s sovereignty, national interests and public welfare while maintaining partnerships based on equality, fairness and mutual respect.
He said Bangladesh was seeking to expand trade, attract foreign investment, encourage technology transfer and create new opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships. Stronger economic cooperation, he added, would benefit both Bangladesh and its international partners.
Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh had proposed that Türkiye establish an international-standard hospital and nursing institute in Dhaka, with the government prepared to provide land or infrastructure at a nominal cost. He also requested more scholarships for Bangladeshi students and urged Türkiye to simplify visa access for Bangladeshi nationals to strengthen people-to-people contact, tourism, education, trade and business links.
Around 3,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently live in Türkiye, most of them students.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh would continue to conduct its diplomacy on the principles of sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect and reciprocity, while pursuing broader international cooperation to address global challenges.
