Sheikh Hasina congratulates Turkish President Erdogan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on winning the referendum that expands his power.

“It is with great pleasure that I, on behalf of my people and my government, take this opportunity to congratulate you on winning the verdict of the Turkish people in favour of constitutional amendment ushering in the Executive Presidential System,” the PM said in a message.
 
“The massive turnout in the referendum and the support demonstrate the trust and confidence of Turkish people in your leadership”.
 
Hasina hoped that they would be able to take the “existing brotherly relations to a new height for the mutual benefits of our people in the days to come”.
 
Erdogan, a populist with a background in once-banned Islamist parties, has ruled since 2003 with no real rival, while his country emerged as one of the fastest-growing industrial powers in both Europe and the Middle East.
 
He has also been at the centre of global affairs, commanding NATO's second-biggest military on the border of Middle East war zones, taking in millions of Syrian refugees and controlling their further flow into Europe.
 
Critics accuse him of steering Turkey towards one-man rule and exacerbating divisions that could increase instability. The two largest opposition parties both challenged Sunday's referendum, saying it was deeply flawed.