Bangladesh premier seeks Turkish investment, role in Rohingya repatriation

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed the country’s interest Tuesday in a robust Turkish investment to further strengthen economic ties between the two brotherly nations.

The prime minister further sought cooperation from Türkiye in defense as well as socio-economic aspects.

Hasina made the remarks while outgoing Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan visited her in Dhaka, the prime minister’s speech writer M. Nazrul Islam told journalists after the meeting at the prime minister’s office.

"I call for more investment in Bangladesh on a larger scale." Islam quoted the prime minister.

The primer also eyed a greater role for Türkiye to pressure Myanmar to take back its nationals -- the persecuted Rohingya Muslims.

Bangladesh has been providing temporary shelter on the southeast coast of Cox’s Bazar to 1.2 million Rohingya refugees since a refugee influx in 2017 due to a Myanmar military crackdown.

Turan assured Bangladesh that Ankara will boost economic ties and will have a role in a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, Islam added.

The Turkish diplomat also expressed his country's interest in increasing cooperation with Bangladesh in the defense sector.

The Turkish government and businessmen have shown a greater interest to invest in Bangladesh amid a catchy infrastructure development, especially the establishment of economic zones, said Turan. “Turkish companies invested about $850 million in economic zones in Bangladesh in 2022,” he said.

Trade and business between the two nations stand at around $1.5 billion.

Hasina also emphasized the need to hold the next Bangladesh-Turkey Joint Economic Group meeting without delay to discuss cooperation in trade, business and other issues.

The last meeting of the joint group was in Istanbul in 2019.

Turan expressed his country's interest in setting up a super-special hospital in Bangladesh and a suitable location for the facility.

Hasina proposed land in Purbachal in Dhaka or next to the Padma Multipurpose Bridge -- the biggest mega project that Bangladesh recently completed -- located 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Dhaka, for the project.