Turkish FM Set for Talks in Bangladesh

(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will embark on his first official visit to Bangladesh on Friday, arriving at the invitation of Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman for a two-day diplomatic mission that spans high-level political talks, trade ambitions, and a firsthand look at one of the world's largest refugee crises, diplomatic sources said.

Over the course of Friday and Saturday, Fidan is expected to be received by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Rahman — exchanges expected to reaffirm the deepening momentum in ties between Ankara and Dhaka since Bangladesh's new government assumed office in February.

A central economic objective of the visit will be advancing the shared goal of doubling bilateral trade from $1.35 billion in 2025 to $2 billion, with Fidan set to press for expanded cooperation across trade, defense, energy, education, culture, science, and health.

Fidan is also expected to congratulate Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Rohingya Crisis Front and Center
Beyond the diplomatic agenda, Fidan is scheduled to travel to Cox's Bazar, where more than one million Rohingya Muslims — displaced by Myanmar's civil war — are sheltered in sprawling refugee camps. There, he will inspect humanitarian operations run by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Diyanet Foundation, and Türkiye's Health Ministry, and tour the Turkish Field Hospital — a facility that has been operational since 2018 and currently serves approximately 1,000 patients daily through a staff of 85, including 30 Turkish and 55 local personnel.

Ankara has poured more than $80 million into humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees, spanning healthcare, shelter, education, food, and infrastructure — a commitment Fidan is expected to reaffirm, while pressing for the Rohingya crisis to remain a priority on the global agenda.

The visit also carries broader strategic significance, with Fidan expected to highlight Bangladesh's importance to regional stability across South Asia and underscore Türkiye's commitment to multilateral cooperation through the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation. Regional flashpoints — including developments in the Middle East, Iran, and South Asia — are also expected to feature in discussions.

The trip builds on steadily warming bilateral ties. Foreign Minister Rahman made his first bilateral foreign visit to Türkiye on March 14 and subsequently attended the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in April, signaling Dhaka's intent to deepen engagement with Ankara under its new administration.

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