Dhaka, Ankara discuss defense ties

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held “fruitful and very satisfying” talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New York on Tuesday.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since Tarique Rahman assumed office as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister in February.

“It was a fruitful and satisfying meeting. The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including enhanced trade and investment, people to people connections, and potentials to deepen defense ties between the two nations,” Mahdi Amin, Adviser and Spokesman to the Prime Minister, told the media yesterday.

Erdogan said relations between Türkiye and Bangladesh need to be placed on a “more institutional footing” and stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in the defense industry, repored Anadolu Agency.

Türkiye is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of defense equipment. Earlier, under the Interim Government, Türkiye had offered to establish a joint-venture drone manufacturing plant in Bangladesh.

Amin noted that President Erdogan congratulated PM Tarique on his landslide victory in the February general election, describing Bangladesh as a “brotherly country” during their discussion.

Türkiye has been a major supporter of Bangladesh in responding to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. President Erdogan reaffirmed that Ankara will continue to assist Bangladesh in seeking a durable, long-term solution.

Prime Minister Tarique called for increased Turkish investment in Bangladesh and emphasized the need to expand bilateral trade.

President Erdogan extended an invitation to Prime Minister Tarique to visit Türkiye in the near future, which the Bangladeshi leader accepted. PM Tarique, in turn, invited President Erdogan to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiyun Kabir, Adviser Mahdi Amin, and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan were present during the meeting.