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Bangladesh’s ambassador to Türkiye said defense industry cooperation is a key priority in bilateral relations, praising Türkiye’s capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles and signaling interest in expanding collaboration.
Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Ankara, M. Amanul Haq, said one of the most important sectors for cooperation with Türkiye is the defense industry.
“One of the most important sectors I must mention is the defense industry. We are very much looking forward to strong cooperation with Türkiye in this field,” Haq said in an interview.
He praised Türkiye’s defense capabilities, particularly its unmanned aerial vehicles, saying Türkiye has shown the world how a country can enhance its capacity and capabilities through systems such as Bayraktar drones. He noted that Turkish defense products also meet NATO standards.
Haq recalled that Haluk Gorgun, head of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defense Industries, recently held talks in Bangladesh, adding that cooperation in defense is expected to deepen.
Haq said Türkiye-Bangladesh relations are experiencing one of their strongest periods, noting that bilateral trade volume increased from around $1 billion to approximately $1.3 billion.
He said several Turkish companies have invested in Bangladesh and emphasized that high-level ministerial and deputy ministerial contacts have elevated relations to an unprecedented level.
He added that a Turkish delegation will observe Bangladesh’s upcoming elections.
Haq said Türkiye demonstrated its reliability as a partner following political developments in Bangladesh in mid-2024, when a transitional government took office after protests led by students.
Haq said Bangladesh entered a new phase under the transitional government following protests that erupted in July 2024 over public sector quota decisions linked to the 1971 independence war.
He said Türkiye quickly extended support to the transitional administration and added that reforms are underway to prevent a return to authoritarian governance.
Bangladesh will hold general elections and a constitutional referendum on Feb. 12, including a vote on the “July National Declaration,” which Haq described as one of the most significant events for Bangladeshis in this century.
He said voter interest is high, with postal voting being used for the first time.
Haq said Bangladesh remains committed to the safe and voluntary return of Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar, describing repatriation as the only peaceful solution.
He praised Türkiye’s consistent support and noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has regularly raised the issue on international platforms.
He said Bangladesh continues negotiations with Myanmar to ensure a peaceful and acceptable return process.
Haq also said Bangladesh supports peaceful solutions to international crises, adding that Gaza and Palestine remain top priorities in its foreign policy.
He praised Türkiye’s efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and expressed support for reforming the global system, echoing Erdogan’s “The world is bigger than five” message.
Haq said Bangladesh believes in the United Nations system while advocating equal opportunities for all countries and prioritizing diplomacy in times of crisis.
He added that Bangladesh aims to maintain an image as a neutral and credible mediator on the international stage, emphasizing its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
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