Special Correspondent, Dhaka:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Türkiye for COP31, potentially giving the two leaders an opportunity to discuss bilateral and international issues.
Türkiye will host the UN climate conference in Antalya in November, with Tarique expected to attend the high-level segment. He is also likely to hold meetings with other leaders attending the summit.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Türkiye M. Amanul Haq said it is customary for the host country’s leadership to meet visiting heads of government. He said the details would become clearer after a diplomatic briefing by Türkiye’s Environment Minister on September 1.
The possible meeting comes as Dhaka-Ankara relations are expanding beyond traditional areas of cooperation. Trade, investment, defense, and the Rohingya crisis have become important components of the bilateral relationship.
Two-way trade has crossed $1 billion, with Bangladesh maintaining a trade surplus. Türkiye has also provided humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and remained engaged with Bangladesh on the crisis.
Defense cooperation has emerged as another significant area. Bangladesh and Türkiye are negotiating a defense cooperation framework that could be signed soon. The two sides are also discussing Turkish technical assistance to upgrade Bangladesh’s existing defense production facilities.
According to Ambassador Amanul, discussions on technical assistance began during the interim government and have continued under the current administration. He said the overall relationship is expected to gain further depth and breadth.
A Tarique-Erdogan meeting at COP31 could therefore provide an opportunity to review these ongoing areas of cooperation and explore new possibilities. Climate diplomacy may also create additional space for discussions on adaptation, financing, and other issues important to Bangladesh.
The meeting, if confirmed, would also come against a broader backdrop of Bangladesh seeking to expand engagement with major regional and global partners. For Ankara, stronger ties with Dhaka could support its growing economic and strategic engagement in South Asia.
The two leaders may also have another opportunity to meet in New York during the UN General Assembly, where both are expected to attend.
While the COP31 meeting is yet to be confirmed, the expected engagement reflects the growing scope of Bangladesh-Türkiye relations.
