Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has expressed hope to further advance the traditional, century-old relationship between the people of Bangladesh and Turkey.
He voiced this optimism on Friday while addressing as the chief guest at the “Second International Conference on Bangladesh Studies” held at Istanbul University.
Shafiqur pointed out that the Bangladesh-Turkey bond is neither recent nor merely a matter of a few decades, noting that the people of Bangladesh share a century-old traditional bond with Turkey. He expressed expectation that this relationship will progress further in the coming days.
The conference was jointly organised by Istanbul University and the Center for Policy and Social Research (CPSR) under the theme “Multidimensional Perspectives on Reforms in Bangladesh 2.0 and New Horizons of Turkey–Bangladesh Cooperation.”
Discussions at the event focused on the ongoing reform process in Bangladesh, future state-building, and potential avenues for bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey.
Academics, policymakers, diplomats, and researchers from both countries alongside other nations participated in the event.
Keynote papers at the conference were presented by Dr Yasin Aktay, former advisor to the President of Turkey and Professor at Yildirim Beyazit University, and Dr Mokarram Hossain, Professor at Swansea University in the UK.
The opening address was delivered by Prof Dr Mehmed Adak, Vice-Rector of Istanbul University.
Speeches were also delivered by special guests including Akif Yilmaz, chairman of the Bangladesh Friendship Group in the Turkish Parliament; Mustafa Kaya, member of the Turkish Parliament; and Barrister Mahbubul Alam Salehi, member of Parliament of Bangladesh, along with academics and representatives from various countries. Dr Hafizur Rahman, chairman of CPSR, delivered the welcome address, while Prof Dr Osman Akgul, professor at Istanbul University, gave the closing remarks.
