Visiting Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister A. Berris Ekinci met Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday at the party’s Gulshan office, as part of a two-day official visit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation.
The hour-long meeting, which began at 2 pm, was also attended by Turkish Ambassador Ramis Şen. On the BNP side, standing committee leaders such as Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, adviser Humayun Kabir and organizing secretary Shama Obaid participated.
Discussions spanned a wide array of subjects, including trade and investment opportunities, cultural ties, support for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. Khasru said that Turkey has shown keen interest in engaging with whichever government comes to power after the polls, and expressed a desire to expand economic and institutional collaboration.
Observers noted that the meeting underscores Ankara’s intent to build stronger ties with Bangladesh beyond diplomatic formality. The Turkish side is likely to push for enhanced bilateral agreements, greater investment in infrastructure and technology sectors, and elevated role in regional forums.
In the next stage of his visit, Ekinci is expected to lead Turkey’s delegation in the fourth round of foreign secretary-level consultations with Bangladesh, and to meet with top advisers across ministries including power, energy, transport and railways.
As Turkey positions itself as a partner in South Asia, its outreach to political parties in Dhaka signals a strategic push to shape long-term ties irrespective of electoral changes.
