With bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India reaching a historic low, Dhaka is now considering cooperating with Turkey on investments and technology to strengthen the country’s defense industry.
Bangladesh Chief Counselor Muhammad Yunus, who currently heads the transitional government after the ouster of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, met with a Turkish delegation led by Trade Minister Omer Borat at Jamuna Guest House in Dhaka on January 9.
Emphasizing that Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world, Yunus said the government is actively working to create employment opportunities for the country’s youth.
He called on Turkey to invest in the country and proposed leveraging Bangladesh’s young workforce to run factories and supply products throughout the region.
During the talks, Yunus called on Turkey to introduce advanced technology to Bangladesh to support the development of the country’s defense industry.
The chief advisor said: “You are a technology leader. You can build your defense industry here. Let’s get started…we have whatever you need.”
Turkish Trade Minister Dr. Omer Borat also said the two countries could diversify their cooperation beyond the textile industry, which is currently Turkiye’s main import from Bangladesh.
In addition to the defense industry, Borat also highlighted healthcare, pharmaceuticals and agricultural machinery as key areas of economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey.
In 2023-24, Bangladesh exported goods worth around USD 581 million to Turkey, while imports from the country amounted to around USD 424 million.
The Turkish Trade Minister suggested that the Turkish government could take over the role of India and other countries in Bangladesh’s import market.
“We can replace Bangladeshi imports with India and other markets. We can cooperate in economic and social fields at all levels,” the Turkish minister said.
Currently, around 20 major Turkish companies are active in Bangladesh in various sectors including clothing, textiles, accessories, chemicals, engineering, construction and energy.
Turkish companies operating in Bangladesh include Turkish LPG company AYGAZ, Coca-Cola Icecek, and refrigerator and air conditioner manufacturer ARCILIK, which also acquired Singer Bangladesh.
Expanding relations between Türkiye and Bangladesh
The latest development comes just days after Pakistan’s military signed a historic agreement with Bangladesh to train troops, the first since 1971.
The exercise, scheduled to begin in February 2025, marks a significant moment in the history of both countries, as it will be the first time Bangladesh has hosted Pakistani troops in the country since its independence. It is a scenario that was previously unimaginable to many Bangladeshis.
Prior to this agreement, meeting In December 2024, a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bangladesh Chief of Staff Yunus took place on the sidelines of a meeting in Cairo.
During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, signaling the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, on January 5, 2025, Bangladesh made a notable diplomatic move by canceling a scheduled visit of judicial officials to India, reflecting growing tensions in relations with New Delhi. It is something.
Turkey’s involvement raises the possibility of a strategic link between Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey, an alliance that could counter Indian influence in the region.
These moves appear to be part of Dhaka’s deliberate strategy to reduce its dependence on India and diversify its external relations.
As Turkey is already one of the major suppliers of military equipment to Bangladesh, Turkey’s growing influence in Bangladesh’s defense sector is likely to continue seamlessly.
Recently, reports surfaced that talks are underway between Bangladesh and Turkish defense manufacturing company Otkal Otmotiv ve Sabunma Sanai AS to acquire 26 Talpar light tanks.
According to the manufacturer, Tulpar is a versatile platform with high lethality, modularity and future growth potential, designed to meet current and future operational needs.
Bangladeshi military analysts praise Turkish weapons for their reliability, modernity and affordability.
Since the mid-2010s, Bangladesh has imported at least 15 types of munitions from Türkiye. this position The country is Türkiye’s fourth largest market for munitions.
Equipment used by the Bangladesh Army includes the Otkal Cobra II Infantry Motor Vehicle (IMV), Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, Otkal Cobra I Light Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), RN-94 Armored Ambulance, and TRG. there is. 300 Tiger MLRS, and TRG-230 surface-to-surface missiles (SSM).
However, Türkiye’s crowning defense export to Bangladesh is the Bayraktar TB2 drone. The TB-2 drone recently attracted attention when it was spotted near the border in India’s Meghalaya state.
At the time, sightings of the Bayraktar TB2 drone raised concerns among Indian defense experts, with some calling on the government to take decisive action. There were calls for stricter measures, including the possibility of shooting down Turkish drones, if they were spotted again near the Indian border.
The Bayraktar TB2 UCAV has proven its worth in numerous conflicts, including Ukraine, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
In addition to expanding its stockpile of Turkish weapons, Dhaka is also considering acquiring advanced fighter jets, with France’s Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon being the two leading contenders.
bangladesh officials said before EuroAsian Times reported that considering the Indian Air Force’s Operation Rafales, the Eurofighter Typhoon is likely to be chosen for Bangladesh’s future air defense needs.
