Mohammad Shajibul-Al-Rajib:
The government is working toward increasing bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Turkey to $2 billion. Bangladesh aims to further expand its commercial ties with Turkey by enhancing market access, diversifying products, and strengthening business partnerships. This was stated by the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Md. Asaduzzaman, while speaking as the chief guest at a reception held in Dhaka on Thursday evening (October 29, 2026) to mark the 103rd Republic Day of Turkey.
The reception, hosted by the Turkish Embassy, took place at a hotel in Dhaka following an invitation from the Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, His Excellency Ramis Şen. The event, which commemorated the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923, was attended by diplomats from various nations, political leaders, senior government officials, and prominent figures from both military and civilian spheres.
In his address, Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman described the relationship between Bangladesh and Turkey as a multidimensional partnership rooted in historical solidarity and growing cooperation. He noted that the current volume of bilateral trade has reached approximately $1.3 billion; however, there remains significant potential to explore new opportunities. He emphasized that Bangladesh is prepared to elevate bilateral trade to $2 billion or beyond by improving market access, diversifying products, and fostering stronger business-level partnerships.
The Minister stated that deepening economic ties between Bangladesh and Turkey would play a crucial role in generating employment, driving technological innovation, and fostering prosperity for the people of both nations. Currently, cooperation between the two countries spans a wide range of areas, including political dialogue, trade, investment, defense, education, cultural exchange, and humanitarian assistance. Referring to the meeting between the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tareque Rahman, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Law Minister stated that this meeting reflects a shared commitment to deepening and diversifying cooperation between the two nations. He expressed gratitude for Turkey’s humanitarian assistance and steadfast solidarity with Bangladesh regarding the protracted Rohingya crisis. He also highlighted Turkey’s support for international efforts aimed at ensuring justice and accountability.
Recalling the historical ties between the peoples of Bangladesh and Turkey, the Minister cited the renowned poem “Kamal Pasha” by the national poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam. He noted that the poem serves as a symbol of the respect and affection the people of Bangladesh hold for Turkey’s struggle for independence. Furthermore, he sought Turkey’s continued cooperation in establishing the rule of law, justice, and accountability in Bangladesh.
In his welcome remarks, the Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ramis Şen, stated that Turkey is encouraging its business community to explore new opportunities for trade and investment in Bangladesh. Turkish companies have already made significant investments in the country. He also noted that direct passenger and cargo flights between Dhaka and Istanbul are playing a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing connectivity.
The Ambassador mentioned that the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Tareque Rahman, is expected to participate in the world leaders’ summit at the COP-31 conference, scheduled to be held in Antalya, Turkey, on November 11 and 12. He observed that high-level visits and regular communication have injected new momentum into Bangladesh-Turkey bilateral relations.
The Ambassador also recalled the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Bangladesh on June 5–6 of this year, as well as the recent visit of Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman to Turkey to attend the International Justice Conference 2026.
During the event, deep respect was paid to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey. Additionally, a firm resolve was expressed to further strengthen the long-standing friendly relations, mutual cooperation, and future partnership between Bangladesh and Turkey.
