New Delhi: Bangladesh and Turkiye are discussing joint investment in defence manufacturing, including possible Turkish participation in a proposed industrial park in Bangladesh, following talks between the prime minister, Tarique Rahman and the president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in Antalya. The project remains exploratory, with no agreement or memorandum of understanding signed.
The leaders met at the Maxx Royal hotel on Tuesday for about 30 minutes, ahead of the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit. Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Khalilur Rahman and the state minister for foreign affairs, Humaiun Kobir, attended, according to the prime minister’s deputy press secretary, Hasan Shiplu.
Proposed defence industrial park
Bangladesh has initiated plans to establish a defence industrial park and raised possible Turkish investment and joint ventures, Kobir said at a briefing after the meeting. The talks centred on opportunities rather than funding commitments or a finalized production partnership, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and the Bangladesh nationalist party’s official account reported.
A domestic industrial park could offer Bangladesh a route to build manufacturing capacity, develop technical skills and support local supply chains. However, neither government has named participating companies, specified equipment to be manufactured or announced a feasibility study.
Erdogan backed further cooperation in trade and defence industries, according to the Turkish Presidency. Turkiye’s established manufacturing base spans unmanned aircraft, armoured vehicles, naval platforms and defence electronics, while its government investment agency put defence and aerospace exports at $7.2 billion in 2024.
Defence ties gain momentum
The Antalya meeting follows several months of expanding bilateral contacts. In June, visiting Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, and Bangladeshi leaders agreed to annual foreign minister-level consultations, annual “2+2” discussions involving foreign and defence ministers, and a wider ministerial coordination mechanism.
The Bangladesh Army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman, visited Turkiye for five days in July, meeting defence officials and representatives of Turkish manufacturers. His agenda covered military training, technology, industrial cooperation and professional exchanges, according to Bangladesh’s inter services public relations directorate.
Rahman recalled his September meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly in New York and welcomed the progress in bilateral relations since then. He called for closer dialogue to expand trade and investment, while both leaders explored cooperation in energy security, mineral resources and aviation. Bangladesh also highlighted opportunities for Turkish investment and partnerships in renewable energy. Bilateral trade reached approximately $1.35 billion in 2025, with both countries aiming to increase it to $2 billion, according to BSS.
Rohingya crisis and climate cooperation
The Rohingya refugee crisis featured in the meeting, with Rahman thanking Ankara for humanitarian assistance and its solidarity over proceedings at the international court of justice. He sought continued Turkish engagement through the United Nations and organization of islamic cooperation to support safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation.
Rahman emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing the adverse effects of climate change on vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh. During his November 10–12 visit to Turkiye for COP31, he is seeking greater international support for climate adaptation, financing and loss-and-damage measures. He is scheduled to address the World Leaders’ Summit on Thursday and hold further bilateral meetings with participating leaders.
For the proposed industrial park, the immediate questions are whether the two sides initiate a feasibility assessment, identify potential investors and agree on a mechanism for technical cooperation. No construction timetable, project budget or defence production contract has been announced.