Ambassador Allama Siddiki meets Turkish speaker

Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey M. Allama Siddiki met the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT), Ismail Kahraman, at his office in Ankara on Tuesday.

Among others, vice president Ahmet Aydın, Bangladesh-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group chairman Ebubekir Gizligider MP, and GNAT secretary general Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoglu were present at the meeting, said a press release of Bangladesh embassy in Ankara.

The speaker in his remarks gratefully recalled the support of the people of Bangladesh during the War of Independence of Turkey (1919-22), and said that the brotherly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey are historically deep rooted and is based on friendship, and trust.

He hoped that the existing trade between Bangladesh and Turkey which is 1.2 billion now would reach USD 5 billion, as aspired earlier by the Bangladesh prime minister and the Turkish president.

He emphasised greater unity of the Muslim world for broader peace, stability and development centring around forums, such as OIC and D-8. 

The ambassador in his remarks said like other countries, Bangladesh has its own history, culture, goals and vision for the future.

In this regard, he mentioned about the relentless effort of Bangladesh government to become a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

He highlighted Bangladesh’s various socio-economic developments and achievements in the recent past and the untapped potentials.

The Ambassador briefed the speaker about the upcoming Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Turkey, and Joint Economic Commission Meetings (JEC) between the two brotherly countries which would be helpful in adding further momentum in the bilateral relations.

It was also expected that a high-level visit would be scheduled in the near future to take the bilateral relations to a higher plane, said the press release.

The meeting concluded with exchange of gifts and a photo session.