Bangladesh-Turkey Ties: A New Strategic Horizon

Over the past few decades, Bangladesh-Turkey ties have grown beyond diplomatic courtesy into a well-rounded strategic and economic partnership. Shifts in global geopolitics and the foreign policy priorities of both nations have taken Dhaka-Ankara relations to unprecedented heights. The roots, however, run deep in history-from the solidarity of Muslims in undivided Bengal with the Ottoman Caliphate to the enduring affinity between the two nations since the founding of modern Turkey. Building on this foundation, defence cooperation, expanding trade and growing higher education opportunities have further cemented the bilateral friendship.

Economically, Bangladesh has long enjoyed a favourable trade balance with Turkey. According to the latest UN Comtrade data, bilateral trade has crossed $1.3 billion, with Bangladesh exporting around $875 million and importing about $428 million. Its leading exports include knitwear worth approximately $350 million, woven garments around $342 million, and jute and jute-related fibre products close to $129 million. Turkey mainly exports raw cotton worth about $125 million, textile-processing machinery and industrial boilers roughly $70 million, and electrical and electronic components around $35 million. Economists believe that a preferential or free trade agreement (FTA) could multiply this trade several times, especially as Bangladesh’s strength in ready-made garments complements Turkey’s expertise in technology and capital goods. Defence cooperation has emerged as the most dynamic front in the relationship in recent years. Buoyed by Turkey’s strides in indigenous defence manufacturing and drone technology, Bangladesh has deepened its partnership with Ankara to modernise its military capabilities. Moving beyond a conventional buyer-seller arrangement, the two nations are expanding cooperation through technology transfer, joint production and training exchanges. This strategic understanding with Turkey, a NATO power with considerable regional clout, has added diversity to Bangladesh’s geopolitical security architecture and is playing a pivotal role in realising the armed forces’ modernisation blueprint, “Forces Goal 2030.”

Arguably the brightest jewel in this bilateral relationship is educational and cultural exchange. Fully funded by the Turkish government since 1992, the Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) programme is now among the world’s largest international scholarship schemes, awarding roughly 5,000 scholarships annually to students from nearly 178 countries at associate, undergraduate, master’s and PhD levels. The package covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, university placement and Turkish language instruction. Applications open each year from mid-January through the end of February. Under a South Asian quota, many Bangladeshi students pursue their studies entirely free of cost, creating an intellectual bridge between the younger generations of the two nations. 

Alongside this, joint educational and cultural initiatives between Ankara’s Yunus Emre Institute and the University of Dhaka continue to reinforce the historic bond between the two peoples. On multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the D-8, Bangladesh and Turkey have consistently supported each other through global and regional crises. Turkey, in particular, has provided strong political and financial support for Bangladesh’s humanitarian response to the forcibly displaced Rohingya population. Through its state development agency, TIKA, Turkey also continues to implement welfare and infrastructure projects across Bangladesh, further strengthening the human connection between the two countries.

From its deep historical roots to today’s growing cooperation in defence, trade and education, the Bangladesh-Turkey relationship has clearly come of age. Initiatives such as the Türkiye Scholarships, along with strengthening trade and defence ties, are laying the groundwork for a future shaped by capable and forward-looking leadership on both sides. As the two nations continue to work closely on diplomatic fronts, their partnership is poised to open new avenues for peace and development at both regional and global levels.