Photo: ISPR Facebook

DHAKA, July 25, 2026 (BSS) - Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned home today after completing a five-day official visit to Turkey aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and military ties between the two countries.

Upon his arrival in Turkey, the army chief paid tribute to the country's founding father and first President, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, by laying a wreath at his mausoleum, Anitkabir, according to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release issued tonight.

During the visit, General Waker held separate courtesy meetings with Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces General Metin Tokel, and Director of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin. He also met representatives of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB)

The Bangladesh army chief was accorded a guard of honour at the Turkish Land Forces Headquarters.

The meetings focused on the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, bilateral defence cooperation, military training, defence technology, collaboration in the defence industry, capacity building and other issues of mutual interests, the release said.

Both sides expressed keen interest in further expanding professional cooperation, exchange of experience and defence collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries.

As part of the visit, the army chief toured several leading Turkish defence and military technology companies, including ASISGUARD, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), Makine ve Kimya Endstrisi (MKE), SARSILMAZ, STM, ROKETSAN, ASELSAN and BAYKAR.

During the visits, he was briefed on the organisations' production systems, research and development (R&D) activities, advanced technologies, innovations, defence manufacturing capabilities and future technology development plans. He also exchanged views with senior officials of the organisations on potential areas of future cooperation.