Bangladesh and Turkey have reached an understanding to form a joint ministerial-level committee on defense and foreign affairs to strengthen bilateral political cooperation. The decision was announced on Saturday after a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who arrived in Dhaka for a three-day visit.
“Bangladesh and Turkey have decided to form a joint ministerial-level committee on defense and foreign affairs to strengthen bilateral relations,” state news agency BSS reported, citing the prime minister’s press arm.
The meeting decided to hold annual foreign office consultations between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries to further deepen “strategic relations”, the press wing spokesperson said.
Fidan said his visit was the first step towards raising Bangladesh-Turkey relations to the “strategic level” as he simultaneously conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s greetings to Rahman.
The press wing said the prime minister’s discussion with Fidan also focused on the Rohingya crisis, climate change, trade and investment, joint production and cooperation and regional and international issues of common interest.
Rahman thanked Turkey for its continued support to Dhaka, especially for supporting its candidate for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, and extended an invitation to Erdogan to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time in the near future.
Earlier on Friday, the Turkish foreign minister held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Khalilur Rahman and also traveled to southeastern Cox’s Bazar to visit a makeshift Rohingya camp.
The visit of the Turkish foreign minister, who arrived here on Thursday night, is part of his official tour of several East and South Asian countries, the fourth stop being Bangladesh.
(With data from PTI)
