Turkiye has expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh across several areas, including tackling the impacts of climate change, protecting the health of women and children, advancing renewable energy, and producing eco-friendly products.
Turkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdogan has specifically expressed her willingness to dispatch a team of experts to Bangladesh. The delegation would share experience and cooperate in addressing health problems faced by women in the country’s coastal and marginalised areas as a result of climate change.
The matters were discussed at a meeting between Dr. Zubaida Rahman, spouse of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and Emine Erdogan, spouse of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and also chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam disclosed this at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Conference Room of the Papillon Ziugma Relaxury Hotel in Antalya.
She said that the highly fruitful meeting between Dr Zubaida Rahman and the Turkish First Lady took place on the first day of the Bangladesh delegation’s participation in the COP31 climate summit.
The two sides discussed in detail potential bilateral cooperation to tackle the impacts of climate change and its adverse effects on women and children.
Shama Obaed stated that Emine Erdogan praised the capacity and resilience of the people of Bangladesh in facing the adversities of climate change.
She also expressed interest in cooperating with Bangladesh on waste-to-energy production, solar power and other eco-friendly initiatives.
The meeting also included discussions on expanding the market for Bangladeshi jute products—particularly eco-friendly and biodegradable items intended to serve as alternatives to plastic—within Turkiye and other international markets. The Turkish First Lady demonstrated a particular interest in this sector.
The state minister stated that Dr Zubaida Rahman emphasized women's empowerment, the protection of women's health, and the health and social challenges confronting women and children in Bangladesh as a result of climate change.
She also briefed the Turkish First Lady about various programmes undertaken by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build an eco-friendly Bangladesh, particularly tree plantation and the “Amar Khal Khanon” (digging my canal) programme.
Praising the initiatives, Emine Erdogan stated that there were wide scopes for cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkiye in energy production, the use and export of jute products, women's empowerment, and tackling climate change.
Noting that the Rohingya crisis was also discussed at the meeting, Shama Obaed said Emine Erdogan had visited Bangladesh and the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in 2017, when the Rohingyas took shelter in the country.
The state minister said the Turkish government has been providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas for a long time, adding that the only sustainable solution to the crisis is their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation.
However, the meeting also stressed ensuring healthcare, education, and other basic rights for the Rohingyas until they are repatriated. The Turkish First Lady assured that Turkiye would work with Bangladesh and continue providing necessary support in this regard.
Speaking about the impact of climate change on women and children, the state minister said women in Bangladesh’s coastal regions face constant challenges in adapting to hostile environmental conditions.
She said that issues concerning internal displacement and health risks to women due to climate change were also raised at the meeting.
According to her, Emine Erdogan expressed interest in sharing Turkiye’s experience in addressing these problems with Bangladesh. To this end, she wants to send a team of experts to Bangladesh, who will work with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The two countries will exchange experience, particularly on addressing the health problems of marginalised women due to climate change and on improving maternal health.
Shama Obaed further said Dr Zubaida Rahman invited the Turkish First Lady to visit Bangladesh. Recalling her 2017 visit, Emine Erdogan also expressed her interest in visiting Bangladesh again and voiced hope of making the trip soon at a convenient time.
Why it matters
The meeting underscores deepening Bangladesh-Turkey cooperation on climate adaptation and women's health, with Turkey pledging expert support and continued Rohingya assistance.