Türkiye pushing for lasting solution for persecuted Rohingya, foreign minister says in Bangladesh

Türkiye is working in coordination with neighbouring countries and international organisations to achieve a permanent and just solution to the Rohingya crisis while striving to keep the issue on the international agenda, said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday.

“We are acting in solidarity and coordination with relevant neighbouring countries and organisations to achieve a permanent and just solution to the Rohingya issue. Türkiye is also making intensive efforts to keep this crisis on the agenda of the international community,” Fidan said, speaking at a joint press conference with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in Dhaka following bilateral talks.

Fidan also praised Bangladesh for hosting more than one million of the persecuted refugees, describing the country’s role as a historic humanitarian sacrifice.

“The tragedy endured by the Rohingya Muslims, unfortunately, continues. I would like to once again stress that Bangladesh, which has hosted more than one million Rohingya for years, has demonstrated a historic sacrifice on behalf of all humanity,” he said.

Fidan said he would visit refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and review humanitarian activities carried out by Turkish institutions, including the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Turkish Red Crescent, and Turkish Diyanet Foundation, affiliated with the country’s Religious Affairs Directorate.

He also said he plans to visit a Turkish field hospital in the region.

“We will continue our humanitarian assistance aimed at improving the conditions of the Rohingya while also supporting their safe, dignified, and voluntary return to their homeland,” he said, referring to Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where they fled persecution and violence starting in 2017.

Protection of humanity’s shared heritage

Fidan congratulated Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

He described Rahman’s election and Bangladesh’s victory at the UN as a reflection of the country’s growing international standing, saying the outcome demonstrated the respect Bangladesh enjoys within the international community.

With its Feb. 12 elections and referendum, Bangladesh entered a new era, said Fidan, adding that Türkiye was a strong supporter of the process.

He said the intensive diplomatic engagement between the two countries is deepening bilateral relations and helping identify new areas of cooperation.

“We continue our efforts to deepen our longstanding partnership across a broad spectrum and elevate it to a much stronger and more visionary level on solid foundations,” Fidan said.

The foreign ministers also discussed boosting bilateral trade from $1.3 billion to $2 billion. Fidan added that he signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to protect cultural assets with Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s cultural affairs minister.

“I hope this document, which reflects our determination to protect humanity’s shared heritage, will be beneficial for our countries,” he said.

Regional stability and Mideast tensions

Fidan said ensuring stability, security, peace, and prosperity in the region remains one of the fundamental priorities of Turkish foreign policy, warning that regional conflicts are increasingly shaping global dynamics.

Addressing tensions involving Iran, he said the US-Israeli attacks on Iran had affected not only the region but the wider world.