Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to visit Bangladesh in the near future.

“He (the PM) extended an invitation to President Erdoğan to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time in the near future,” said a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing following visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s meeting with Tarique Rahman.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the city’s Tejgaon area, marking the final engagement of the Turkish Foreign Minister’s three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister thanked the Turkish Foreign Minister for undertaking the visit.

Visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's greetings to Prime Minister Rahman.

Fidan said his visit constituted the first step towards elevating Bangladesh–Türkiye relations to a strategic level.

During the meeting, Bangladesh and Türkiye agreed to hold annual Foreign Office Consultations at the level of Foreign Ministers.

They also decided that annual 2+2 consultations would be held involving the Foreign and Defence Ministers of both sides in order to further deepen strategic relations.

Besides, with a view to further strengthening political, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries, a consultation mechanism in the form of a committee would be established under the respective Foreign Ministers, which would involve the relevant ministries of each side.

The meeting reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. “Discussions focused particularly on the Rohingya issue, climate change, trade and investment, joint production and cooperation, and regional and international matters of mutual interest.”

The Prime Minister thanked Türkiye for its continued support to Bangladesh, particularly for backing its candidate for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly session, said the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and State Minister Shama Obaed, among others, were present at the meeting.

Hakan Fidan arrived in Dhaka from Seoul on Thursday night on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

On Friday, he held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka before travelling to Cox’s Bazar to observe the situation of the Rohingya refugees.