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Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has called for stronger cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey in aviation and tourism, saying expanded connectivity and investment could further strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
He made the remarks during a meeting with a Turkish delegation led by Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramis Şen at his office at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on Wednesday.
The delegation included Bilal Belyurt, commercial counsellor at the Turkish Embassy, and Islam Gure, country director of Turkish Airlines Bangladesh.
Welcoming the delegation, Millat said Bangladesh and Turkey share historic and friendly relations, with considerable scope for expanding cooperation in culture, creativity, tourism and people-to-people connectivity.
The minister welcomed Turkey’s interest in operating three additional flights on the Dhaka-Istanbul route. Turkish Airlines currently operates seven weekly flights between Dhaka and Istanbul, while the Turkish side has expressed interest in adding three more services.
Millat said the opening of the Third Terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport would create further opportunities to expand international flight operations.
He also called for considering direct air connectivity between Turkey and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet to meet the growing international travel needs of people, particularly expatriate Bangladeshis from Chattogram and Sylhet.
He said additional flights from these airports would make international travel more convenient and strengthen people-to-people links between Bangladesh and Turkey.
On tourism development, Millat said the government had taken initiatives to develop 1,498 tourist attractions across Bangladesh under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements.
He invited Turkish investors to invest in Bangladesh’s tourism sector, particularly in tourism infrastructure, destination management and hospitality services.
The minister said Turkey’s experience in tourism development, hospitality and related sectors could make an important contribution to the development of Bangladesh’s tourism industry.
Visa facilitation for Bangladeshi nationals also came up for discussion. Millat stressed the need to simplify visa procedures to promote people-to-people contact, business, tourism and wider cooperation between the two countries.
He said greater mobility between Bangladesh and Turkey would help deepen bilateral relations and create new opportunities for economic cooperation.
Both sides expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in aviation, tourism, investment and people-to-people connectivity.
Millat reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding friendship with Turkey, expressing hope that expanded cooperation in aviation and tourism would benefit the people of both countries.
