Senior Bangladeshi officials laud relationship with Türkiye

By Dilara Dincer, Furkan Mercan, Can Efesoy, Damla Delialioglu, Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL/ANTALYA (AA) - Bangladesh’s top official for Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam, and an adviser for foreign affairs to its interim government, Touhid Hossain, lauded the relationship with Türkiye and both expressed a desire to enhance ties Saturday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Alam told Anadolu that "there are new possibilities" for ties and the "Bangladeshi government, is trying to reach out to those possibilities."

Alam said Türkiye's investment and cooperation "will be moved so speedy," alongside others, considering Dhaka's and Ankara's "keenness​​​​​​​" on furthering ties.

He said there would be discussions between Muslim nations and other countries at a UN Summit in September on situation of Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh from persecution in Myanmar. Alam said there would also be seminars on the refugees which would "give directions to the future course."

"In some meetings with Turkish delegates, we'll have discussions about this," said Alam.

“The people of Bangladesh and people of Türkiye have very intimate feelings towards each other,” said Hossain, adding that the Bangladeshi interim government is "very keen on maximizing relations" with Ankara as well as "diversifying" cooperation areas and "taking it to new heights.”

On Rohingya refugees, Hossain said Dhaka will be in touch with Ankara to facilitate the return of refugees.

"We hope that our two countries will really become even closer, as the days come," said Hossain.

The three-day forum kicked off Friday in the southern Turkish city of Antalya and is centered on the theme, "Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World."