News Report “Bangladesh will become one of the key players in the world economy by 2021 when the country celebrates its golden jubilee,” said outgoing Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Huseyin Muftuoglu while talking to The News Today at his office on Thursday. He praised steady economic growth of Bangladesh over the last few years, empowerment of women specially by the readymade garment sector, increasing enrollment of girls’ education, success in tackling disaster management and improvement in primary health and sanitation. Bangladesh that got independence through a bloody war in 1971 will celebrate its golden jubilee in 2021. Refering to the UN Millenium Development Goals, the Turkish envoy praised Bangladesh’s impressive success on all socioeconomic fronts under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Ambassador Muftuoglu also congratulated Bangladesh for becoming a lower middle-income country in the world. Mentioning that Bangladesh’s contribution to the international groupings especially D-8 is very positive, the envoy added that Turkey and Bangladesh also have a good military cooperation and a cooperation in fighting terrorism both of which Turkey looks forward to intensify.” He expressed satisfaction over the cordial and close ties between the two brotherly countries with shared history, faith, culture and values. Terming the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey “stronger than ever” the diplomat said Dhaka-Ankara ties would reach new heights in the years to come. The envoy underscored the need for exchange of high-level visits to further bolster the ties between Bangladesh and Turkey. He stressed the importance of holding regular consultations and meetings at different levels like the Foreign Office Consultation and the Joint Economic Cooperation to augment the bilateral ties. He expressed the hope that Turkish entrepreneurs will invest in Bangladesh’s potential sectors for the mutual benefits of the two brotherly countries. He said the Turkish businessmen may come forward for establishing joint ventures in shipbuilding, heavy machinery, construction, electronic appliances, textile, RMG, jute products, petro-chemical products and energy sectors in Bangladesh. “The Bangladesh government has ensured an investment-friendly atmosphere in the country by offering various facilities to the investors. Against this backdrop Turkish entrepreneurs could exploit the opportunity by making investment in Bangladesh’s different potential sectors in a larger volume,” he said. The two-way trade is currently around $1,3 billion. The major export items to Turkey are woven garments, knitwear, raw jute, jute goods, leather, agro-products, frozen food etc. On the other hand more than 50 products, articles and substitute items are being imported from Turkey. He voiced his satisfaction that every year more and more Bangladeshi tourists are travelling to Turkey. “Turkish Airlines’ daily flights between Istanbul and Dhaka not only offer the best connections to the destinations in Europe and America, but also give the chance to thousands of our Bangladeshi friends to stay in ?stanbul for a few days”. The Turkish envoy mentioned that a regional office of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) in Dhaka has been set up which will help realize development projects in Bangladesh and beyond. He said that TIKA has already completed many projects in the areas of technical and vocational education and community health clinics. He laid stress on further strengthening D-8 group for intensifying cooperation between its member states. The Turkish envoy paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his 40th martyrdom anniversary. In this connection, the Turkish envoy mentioned that he was born on 23 February 1969, the day when the unparalleled leader of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was given the title ‘Bangabandhu’. “I believe I was destined to serve as an Ambassador in Bangladesh the day I was born” he said. “Sincerely, Bangladesh is a true friend of Turkey and we’ll always stand by Bangladesh,” he added. He also appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the UN Peacekeeping Missions and thanked the Bangladesh government for its support to Turkey in different international fora. Both President Gül and the Prime Minister Erdo?an of Turkey visited Bangladesh in 2010. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a visit to Turkey to participate in the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries which took place in ?stanbul on 9-13 May 2011. She also paid an official visit to Turkey on 10-12 April 2012 upon the invitation of the then Prime Minister Erdo?an. Huseyin Muftuoglu is leaving Bangladesh on August 17, 2015 after serving at the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka for nearly two and a half years.
