Online Desk: Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has expressed Dhaka’s keen interest to increase bilateral trade by diversifying commodities with Ankara as well as proposed contract farming between Bangladesh and Turkey.

He made the remark while holding a bilateral talk with Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the 3rd day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (AFD) in Antalya on Sunday, according to a message received in Dhaka.

During the meeting, the Bangladesh foreign minister mentioned the excellent relations between the two brotherly peoples and expressed his felicitation in the celebration of 100 years of Independence of Turkiye and the 50 years of bilateral relations between Dhaka and Ankara.

The warm bond of friendship between the two countries is constantly growing, he added.

Mahmud recalled that the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a strong inspiration from the struggle of Kemal Ataturk, the Father of the Nation of Turkiye.

Bangladesh foreign minister thanked his counterpart for very successfully organising the Antalya Diplomacy Forum where 70 foreign and other ministers and nine Heads of State attended.

He conveyed the Turkish foreign minister the appreciation of the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to invite her to the Forum by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The foreign minister handed over the return letter of the Bangladesh premier wrote to the Turkish President.

Mahmud proposed Contract Farming between the two countries where Bangladeshi farmers and experts will do seasonal cultivation in Turkiye and travel back to Bangladesh after yield.

The Turkish foreign minister thanked his Bangladesh counterpart for his attendance at the AFD and Bangladesh prime minister for her appreciation letter to Erdogan.

Fidan expressed Turkish keen interest to work together with Bangladesh in important regional and global affairs.

He assured his country’s continued support to the cause of Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar.

In reply, Bangladesh foreign minister reiterated his gratitude for Turkiye’s support towards Rohingya issue and hoped that Ankara would also play a greater role to stop the Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

Both the ministers hoped that the war in Ukraine would end soon and thus the price of fuel, LNG and crop will come down, which is now very essential for economic growth of both countries as well as the developing world.

On response to his counterpart, Mahmud assured that both the Education and Law Ministries of Bangladesh would soon settle the Turkish Hope School management issue.

Bangladesh foreign minister invited his Turkish counterpart to visit to Bangladesh at a suitable time.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkiye M. Amanul Huq was present at the meeting.