Bangladesh–Turkey relations

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Bangladeshi-Turkish relations
Map indicating locations of Bangladesh and Turkey

Bangladesh
Turkey

Bangladesh–Turkey relations refers to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey. Both countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey has an embassy in Dhaka and Bangladesh has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul.

History[]

An Ottoman fleet in the 16th century, not far from the Port of Chittagong.

Early[]

The two countries have had diplomatic relationships for several centuries. The ancient shipbuilding industry at the Port of Chittagong provided for the entire fleet of Ottoman warships of the sultans in the 17th century.[1][2] The renowned muslin trade in Bengal was also welcomed by the Ottomans, who used the material for their turbans.[3]

In 1912, many Bengalis, particularly from Sandwip,[4] travelled to the Balkan Peninsula to fight alongside the Ottoman Empire and provide medical aid during the Balkan Wars. One notable participant was the Bengali author Ismail Hossain Siraji.[5] Bengali Muslims continued to express their support to the Ottomans during the Khilafat Movement.[6]

Modern[]

In 2016, the diplomatic relationship between two countries became complex when Bangladesh denounced Turkey's consecutive requests to free several Bangladeshi Jamaat-e-Islami leaders who have been convicted for war crimes during Bangladesh Liberation War by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh and eventually executed.[7][8] Following the execution of the Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Bangladesh.[9] However, after Bangladesh's condemnation of the coup d'état attempt to overthrow the Erdogan government, relations began to improve. Consequently, Ankara sent a new ambassador to Dhaka. After arrival, the new Turkish ambassador remarked, "Bangladesh had helped Turkey by expressing its support to Erdogan’s government after the failed coup attempt." The ambassador commented that the relations between the two countries have become normal. The ambassador also expressed Turkey's willingness in helping Bangladesh to control militancy in the country.[10]

During the Rohingya crisis, where the Muslim Rohingyas were being expelled from Myanmar, Turkey donated millions of dollars to the government of Bangladesh in order to aid the Rohingyas who are settling in Chittagong. In September 2017, First Lady Emine Erdogan visited and helped provide relief in the shelters of the Rohingyas and promised more co-operation and aid to Bangladesh.[11]

High level state visits[]

Former Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman became the first Bangladeshi head of state to visit Ankara. In 1986, the then Turkish prime minister, Turgut Ozal paid a visit to Bangladesh.[12] Turkish President Suleyman Demirel joined Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat at the silver jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence in 1997. In 1998, the two countries co-founded the Developing 8 Countries group. Turkish president Abdullah Gul paid an official visit to Dhaka in 2010.[13] Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a visit to Dhaka in 2010.[14][15] Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to Ankara in 2012.[16]

Defence cooperation[]

Turkish made Otokar Cobra of Bangladesh Army

In 2013, Turkey supplied Otokar Cobra light armored vehicles to the Bangladesh Army.[17] Bangladesh signed an agreement with Turkey on military training, education and joint cooperation between forces of both nations on 10 March 1981 at Dhaka.[18]

In June 2021, a turnkey 105 mm and 155 mm artillery sell production line establishment agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Turkish company REPKON. With the modern Free Flowforming (REPKON patented) technology and computerized machinery from REPKON, BOF will produce high-quality 105 mm and 155 mm artillery shells.[19][20] According to Uğur Cem Gürpınar, REPKON business development and corporate communications officer, "Bangladesh, like many friendly and allied countries, preferred REPKON because of its technology that is ahead of its competitors in the world".[19]

On 29 June 2021, Government to Government (G2G) defence memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Bangladesh and Turkey. According to İsmail Demir, president of Presidency of Defense Industries, the export agreement of various products of Roketsan has been signed with Bangladesh.[21] Roketsan already delivered TRG-300 Tiger MLRS to the Bangladesh Army in June 2021 from a separate deal.[22] Bangladesh is set to become one of the top defence equipment clients of Turkey in next few years.

Economic relations[]

Bangladesh and Turkey are among each other's key trading partners. The bilateral trade between the two countries is worth more than $1 billion.[23] Bangladeshi export items to Turkey have been dominated by apparel products. Since 2012, Bangladesh and Turkey have been in talks to sign a free trade agreement,[24] but signing of the agreement is halted due to the complications relating to Turkey's bid for accession to the European Union.[25][26] The shipbuilding industry of Bangladesh has also been identified as a potential sector for Turkish investment.[27]

Bangladesh and Turkey have signed a joint protocol on trade and investment in 2012. The Bangladesh-Turkey Joint Economic Commission has been holding biennial meetings to discuss the ways for increasing bilateral trade and investment.[28]

References[]

  1. ^ Hossain, Khandakar Akhter (2012). "Shipbuilding Industry". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Prospects of shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh". New Age. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
  3. ^ Ashmore, Sonia (2012). Muslin (Sonia Ashmore), Page 12. V&A Publishing. p. 12. ISBN 9781851777143.
  4. ^ Abul Kalam Elias (16 December 2003). "The contribution of Sandwip to the struggle for freedom". The Daily Star. Vol. 4.
  5. ^ Shah, Mohammad (2003). "Pan-Islamism in India & Bengal". Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society. Pakistan Historical Society. 51: 24.
  6. ^ Ahmed, Sufia (2012). "Khilafat Movement". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  7. ^ Reza, Pantha Rahman; Rezwan (2013-01-20). "Turkish President's Letter To Bangladesh Denounced". Global Voices. Global Voices Online. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
  8. ^ Ramani, Samuel (4 July 2016). "Can Bangladesh and Turkey Mend Frayed Ties?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  9. ^ Dolan, David; Toksabay, Ece (2016-05-12). "Turkey withdraws Bangladesh ambassador after execution of Islamist: Erdogan". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
  10. ^ Zaman, Sheikh Shahariar. "Turkey wants to restore ties with Bangladesh". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Bangladesh-Turkey Ties Deepen Amid Rohingya Crisis". SRJ News.
  12. ^ Hossain, Mohammad Amjad (2012-04-13). "Bangladesh-Turkey ties: a close look". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  13. ^ Muhammad Zamir (2010-02-15). "Consolidating Bangladesh-Turkey relations". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  14. ^ "PM Erdoğan Meets Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina Wajid". TRT English. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  15. ^ Harun ur Rashid (2010-11-16). "A new horizon of cooperation". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  16. ^ "PM reaches Turkey". The Daily Star. 2012-04-12. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  17. ^ "Army gets new SP guns, Metis M-1 missiles". Natun Barta. 2013-12-22. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  18. ^ "List of Agreements signed with the different countries of the Western and central Asian Countries". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh). September 5, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ a b "Bangladeş'in top mermilerinde Türk imzası" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Leading Edge Metal Forming Methods for Modern Defense Industries". REPKON. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  21. ^ "ROKETSAN Bangladeş'e ihracat yapacak (ROKETSAN will export to Bangladesh)" (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  22. ^ "PM includes 'Tiger Multiple Launch Rocket System' in Bangladesh Army". The Daily Star. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  23. ^ "Optimism for $10b Turkey-Bangla trade". The Bangladesh Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  24. ^ Hafez Ahmed (2012-04-14). "Dhaka, Ankara to sign FTA soon". The Financial Express. Dhaka. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  25. ^ "Dhaka for FTA talks with Turkey". Dhaka Tribune. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  26. ^ Uddin, Jasim (2013-10-31). "Govt finalises draft framework of FTA with Turkey". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  27. ^ Alam, Syed Ahsanul (2012-04-25). "Marketing of Turkey-Bangladesh ties". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  28. ^ Hafez Ahmed (2012-11-13). "Dhaka, Ankara to raise trade to $3bn by 2015". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
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