Bangladesh and Turkiye on Saturday reached an understanding to form ministerial-level joint committees to strengthen cooperation in defence and political areas.

The understanding came when visiting Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan paid a courtesy call on prime minister Tarique Rahman at the prime minister’s office in Tejgaon, said a release issued by the PM’s Press Wing.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to hold Annual Foreign Office Consultations at the level of foreign ministers. They also decided that annual 2+2 consultations will be held involving foreign and defence ministers of both sides in order to further deepen strategic relations.

During the meeting, minister Fidan conveyed president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s greetings to prime minister Tarique Rahman.

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

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 will involve the ministries concerned of each side, said the PM’s Press Wing.

Discussions focused particularly on the Rohingya issue, climate change, trade and investment, joint production and cooperation, and regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Prime minister Tarique Rahman thanked the Turkish foreign minister for undertaking the visit.

He extended an invitation to Turkish president Erdogan to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time in the near future.

The prime minister thanked Turkiye for its continued support to Bangladesh, particularly for backing its candidate for the presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly session.

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 Rohingyas.

The Turkish foreign minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka later on Saturday.