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Published : 05 Jun 2026, 05:02 PM
The new government in Bangladesh is pursuing a policy of building constructive bilateral and multilateral relations with all countries around the world, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has said.
Speaking at a joint briefing on Friday with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Dhaka, he explained the BNP government's foreign policy doctrine of “Bangladesh First.”
The foreign minister said: “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique, our government’s foreign policy is guided by the philosophy of ‘Bangladesh First.’ This does not mean that Bangladesh stands alone.
“Rather, it means that we have a firm commitment to Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty, national interests, and the welfare of our people.”
“At the same time, it also reflects our belief that beyond our borders we have friends and partners, not masters.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Khalil held a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart Fidan at the InterContinental Dhaka.
The two ministers also held a private meeting afterward.
Later, during the briefing, the two foreign ministers highlighted aspects of their discussions as well as their respective views on global developments and international affairs. However, they did not take any questions from the media.
Highlighting the foreign policy of the new government, Khalilur said, “Bangladesh believes strongly in diplomacy based on equality, fairness, and mutual respect. We are committed to building constructive bilateral and multilateral relations with all countries of the world.”
“Our approach of cooperation is based on shared interests, respect for international rules and a spirit of partnership and friendship. We also believe that multilateral cooperation is essential in addressing the global challenges of our time.”
Bangladesh will continue to work on strengthening cooperation and collaboration with friends like Türkiye to promote peace, stability, economic progress, shared prosperity, wider cooperation in mutually beneficially areas, and to ensure sustainable development, he said.
The foreign minister emphasised that the visit came at a significant moment of Bangladesh-Türkiye relations and demonstrates the shared commitment of both countries to deepening cooperation and elevating the bilateral partnership to new heights at a strategic level in the coming days. He thanked the Turkish foreign minister for the effort.
“We are here ready with open hands and I know you are ready too. So there is no reason why we should not have very rapid action to take our relationship to new heights in the future.”
‘Take Advantage of Political Stability’
The foreign minister called on Türkiye to invest in Bangladesh, taking advantage of its political stability, business-friendly environment, and growing domestic market.
He spoke about the incentives for foreign investors in Bangladesh and invited the prospective Turkish investors to invest in different private economic zones in Bangladesh.
“We offered our support towards Türkiye to establish a dedicated SEZ in Bangladesh.”
He also said the government requested expanded cooperation by Turkish development authority TIKA towards investment, trade, and industrial partnerships.
The foreign minister said he pointed out possible sectors for Turkish investment such as textiles and apparel, defence item manufacturing, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy, ICT and smart technologies and civil aviation.
Khalilur said that under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, they have discussed the possibility of signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey. In the meantime, the possibility of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) agreement has also been discussed.
He also said that the possibility of increasing the volume of bilateral trade to a “desired level” will be discussed.
The minister said they proposed Türkiye could build or develop an international standard hospital and nursing institute in Dhaka.
‘Will Never Forget the Support’
The foreign minister of Bangladesh expressed gratitude to the Turkish government, for the “invaluable support” for Bangladesh’s candidacy for the president of the 81st Session of UNGA.
“I came back yesterday right after the election and I had the privilege of receiving you in Bangladesh.
I will never forget the support, the encouragement and the assistance that I received personally from you,” he said.
Foreign Minister Khalilur has been elected president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, defeating the candidate from Cyprus, a country in a dispute with Türkiye.
Khalilur made his first foreign trip as foreign minister to Türkiye during the election campaign after entering the fray in February. He then used the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye to campaign for the election.
Khalilur thanked the Turkish government for playing a commendable role in extending humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
The minister said that one of the most pressing humanitarian and diplomatic challenges Bangladesh faces today is the Rohingya crisis. Bangladesh continues to host a large number of displaced Rohingya people on humanitarian grounds.
“While we have extended compassion and support, this situation cannot continue indefinitely. Our priority is the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar as soon as possible. Nine years have been too long, we must get our acts together in order ensure that there are serious international efforts to resolve this crisis as soon as possible.”
