Turkish premier in town

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim arrived in Dhaka yesterday for a two-day official visit to Bangladesh.

Diplomatic sources said although one of the prime objectives of the Turkish leader is to visit the forcibly displaced Rohingyas sheltered in Cox's Bazar, enhancing “economic cooperation” is on the top of the agenda.

The Turkish Prime Ministry Press Center in a statement said Binali Yildirim will hold a number of high-level meetings, including with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid, and the two sides are expected to sign a number of deals after the official talks to be held at the Prime Minister's Office at 3:00pm today.

At a news conference, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim yesterday praised the Bangladesh government for its efforts in lending support to the Rohingyas.

 “We will have the opportunity to once again underline that we are ready to make all means of contribution at the highest level in these difficult times that Bangladesh is going through,” he told the media in Ankara.

Foreign ministry officials said the Turkish PM is leading a 60-member delegation.

In addition, representatives from a number of organisations, including Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent, are also included.

The Turkish prime minister will place wreaths at Savar's National Memorial to pay respect to the martyrs.

Later, Yildrim will inaugurate a chemotherapy centre at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

Then he will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi.

The Turkish prime minister will meet President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening today.

He will go to Cox's Bazar tomorrow to visit Rohingya refugees who fled a military crackdown in Myanmar since August 25.

He will also be able to monitor the refugees' situation and the humanitarian aid efforts being made by international groups along with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and the Religious Affairs Directorate, according to Turkish media reports.

The Turkish prime minister will leave Bangladesh from Cox's Bazar at 2:00pm tomorrow.