Turkish energy minister plans Bangladesh visit by year-end

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh later this year at a mutually convenient time to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy and mineral resources sectors.

The plan was discussed during a bilateral meeting between Bayraktar and Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Amanul Haque at the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara, Bangladesh’s embassy said Wednesday (September 16).

During the meeting, the ambassador handed Bayraktar a formal invitation from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to visit Dhaka. The Turkish minister accepted the invitation and expressed interest in making the trip by the end of 2026.

The ambassador also handed over a draft memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between the two countries.

The talks focused on potential areas for joint cooperation, including solar energy, exploration and development of mineral resources, LNG transportation and related infrastructure, and the possibility of establishing pipeline links between offshore or island facilities in Bangladesh and the mainland.

The two sides also discussed broader opportunities for joint initiatives in the energy and natural resources sectors.

Bangladesh’s delegation included Deputy Chief of Mission Shahanur Alam and Commercial Counsellor Akram Hossain. Turkish officials attending the meeting included the director general of the ministry’s Department of International Affairs and Cooperation and the minister’s adviser Hamit Can Bas.

The Bangladesh Embassy said the meeting reflected efforts to deepen bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation based on mutual interests in the energy sector.