Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister A. Berris Ekinci met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Foreign Ministry. Photo: MoFA

DHAKA. Oct 7, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh and Türkiye today discussed ways to deepen bilateral defence cooperation alongside expanding engagements in trade, education, and labour mobility. 

The discussion took place when Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister A. Berris Ekinci paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Foreign Ministry, said a press release here. 

Ekinci, who is leading the Turkish delegation to the 4th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries, conveyed warm greetings from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and reaffirmed Türkiye unwavering support for the Interim Government of Bangladesh and its ongoing reform initiatives.

During the talks, both sides reviewed the outcomes of the FOC held earlier in the day and explored new areas to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership.

The Turkish Deputy Minister reiterated her country's steadfast commitment to continuing humanitarian assistance for the forcibly displaced Rohingya population sheltered in Bangladesh and to advocating for their safe, dignified, and voluntary return to Myanmar.

The Foreign Adviser underscored the importance of holding the FOC on a regular and timely basis to enhance political understanding and expand cooperation in diverse sectors. 

He called for efforts to boost bilateral trade, setting an ambitious target to raise the current trade volume from USD 1.1 billion to USD 3 billion in the near future.

Highlighting Bangladesh's skilled workforce, Adviser Hossain sought increased opportunities for Bangladeshi professionals in key sectors of Türkiye, including information and communication technology, engineering, healthcare, and software development.

Both sides expressed their readiness to explore new avenues of collaboration in the defence sector and emphasized the importance of sharing technical expertise and capacity-building initiatives.

The meeting also focused on strengthening educational cooperation, with particular emphasis on expanding scholarship opportunities for Bangladeshi students in Türkiye.

Regional and global developments of mutual concern were also discussed, reflecting the two countries' shared perspectives on major international issues. 

The Foreign Adviser and the Turkish Deputy Minister reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for inalienable rights and self-determination.