99 years ago today Turkish Grand National Assembly proclaimed the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye. This was achieved thanks to the Liberation War led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founding Father of the Republic of Türkiye. We will never forget the helping hand of our Bengali brothers and sisters during these times of difficulty.

Turkish War of Liberation and foundation of the Republic of Türkiye on 29 October 1923 sparked joy and inspiration for other nations. Kazi Nazrul Islam, the National Poet of Bangladesh, expressed his joy in his epic poem titled "Kemal Pasha". During our Republic Day reception this year we will have a chance to listen to this extraordinary poem recited by eminent Bangladeshi artists.

The signs of respect for Mustafa Kemal was not limited to Nazrul's poem. His name was given to prestigious avenues in Dhaka and Chittagong and to a high school in Feni. Soon we shall inaugurate the bust of Atatürk and Kemal Atatürk Park in Dhaka just as we have done the same for the Father of the Bangladeshi Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Ankara last December during Mujib Borsho.

Today, rising on the legacy of our Founding Fathers, both Türkiye and Bangladesh are thriving countries. Our current economic and social progress bodes well for a promising future. We will be stronger in every field if we develop our partnership further on this solid foundation.

We are on the right path. Our trade is booming and expected to reach 1.5 billion USD in 2022. This year one of the top destinations for Bangladeshi tourists was Istanbul. Turkish TV dramas are being watched by millions. Turkish Airlines increased the number of their flights to 14 times a week. On the other hand, our investors have already recognized Bangladesh as a land of opportunities, and decided to expand their investments in key sectors of the economy such as energy, consumer goods and ready-made garments. Businesses from our countries have recently met in Istanbul and identified new avenues of cooperation. 

In July this year, we have launched Bangladesh-Türkiye Business Forum (BTBF) in Dhaka. Bringing together six major Turkish companies operating in Bangladesh and eleven prominent Bangladeshi companies, BTBF will promote better economic and trade relations between our countries and facilitate partnerships based on our shared values.

Our shared values date back to the times of Hazrat Shah Jalal. Shah Jalal's mother was from Konya, a Turkish city where Sufi mystic Mawlana Jelaleddin Rumi lived and died. I visited Sylhet several times where Hazrat Shah Jalal's shrine is revered and visited by millions who respect him and his wisdom. Konya and Sylhet are sister cities, bringing us closer.

On this joyful day, I would also like to highlight another shared value of ours, namely the compassion towards the vulnerable people fleeing persecution and violence. Both of our countries host millions of refugees, 4 million Syrians in Türkiye and over 1 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh. That is why Türkiye is best placed to understand and stand in solidarity with the Government of Bangladesh.

In the years to come, Turkish Government is determined to further develop its partnership with Bangladesh for the mutual well-being of our people.

Long live Türkiye-Bangladesh friendship!

Mustafa Osman Turan

Ambassador of Türkiye to Bangladesh