Turkish Energy Minister to visit Dhaka by year-end

Turkey’s Energy Minister Plans Bangladesh Visit Before Year-End

Thebangladaily.com – Bangladesh and Turkey are preparing to deepen their engagement in energy and mineral development, with Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar expected to travel to Dhaka before the end of the year.

The planned visit emerged from talks in Ankara between Bayraktar and Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey M Amanul Haque. The discussions focused on expanding practical cooperation in areas that could support both countries’ energy-sector priorities, including renewable power, mineral resources, liquefied natural gas transport and offshore pipeline facilities.

Bangladesh’s Embassy in Ankara announced the outcome of the meeting on Wednesday, September 16. During the discussion, Ambassador Amanul Haque delivered an official invitation from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to the Turkish minister.

Bayraktar accepted the invitation and indicated that he intends to visit Bangladesh at a suitable time before the close of the year. The anticipated trip is expected to provide an opportunity for both governments to turn their recent discussions into a more formal cooperation framework.

Preparations for energy cooperation agreement

A key objective of the proposed visit is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. Bayraktar directed relevant officials to begin the required preparations for the agreement, signalling that both sides are seeking to move beyond broad expressions of interest.

Ambassador Amanul Haque handed over a draft MoU intended to establish a working structure between the energy ministries of Bangladesh and Turkey. Such a framework could help the two sides identify areas for future technical engagement, investment discussions and project-level collaboration.

The draft document was presented as part of a wider effort to create clearer channels between the ministries. Formal arrangements of this kind can help governments coordinate priorities, exchange expertise and explore whether commercial or state-supported initiatives are feasible in specific sectors.

The meeting also underlined the range of energy-related fields now under consideration. Solar power was among the topics discussed, reflecting the potential role of renewable generation in broader energy planning. Mineral exploration was also raised, alongside the movement of LNG and possible offshore pipeline infrastructure.

Focus on several strategic sectors

Solar energy featured prominently in the exchange as one possible area for joint ventures. Renewable energy projects often require cooperation across technology, financing, construction and long-term operations, making ministerial coordination valuable before individual projects are pursued.

Mineral exploration was another part of the agenda. The discussion suggests an interest in examining how the two countries might cooperate on the technical and institutional aspects of identifying and developing mineral resources. No individual exploration project or investment commitment was announced during the meeting.

LNG transport formed a further part of the conversation. Liquefied natural gas is transported through specialised supply chains, and cooperation in this field can involve logistics, shipping, infrastructure and technical expertise. The talks also covered offshore pipeline infrastructure, an area that can be important to the movement and delivery of energy resources.

By considering solar development, minerals, LNG transport and offshore pipelines together, Bangladesh and Turkey appear to be looking at cooperation across more than one segment of the energy economy. The planned MoU could provide the basis for further discussions, while decisions on particular ventures would require additional work by relevant authorities and partners.

Diplomatic and official participation

Several officials attended the Ankara meeting alongside the two principals. Bangladesh was represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Shahanur Alam and Commercial Counselor Akram Hossain.

Turkey’s side included senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, as well as Senior Advisor Hamid Can Bas. Their presence reflects the practical importance of the issues discussed and may help support follow-up work ahead of Bayraktar’s proposed visit to Dhaka.

The embassy described the meeting as an indication of shared interest in strengthening bilateral relations and opening fresh opportunities in the energy field. The upcoming ministerial visit, if completed as planned, would be a significant next step in that process.

For Bangladesh, closer engagement with Turkey could create additional avenues for dialogue on energy technologies, infrastructure planning and potential investment partnerships. For Turkey, the discussions offer an opportunity to expand economic and technical links with Bangladesh in sectors that are central to long-term development and energy security.

The immediate focus will be on preparations for the visit and on finalising the proposed Memorandum of Understanding. While the agreement would not itself guarantee specific projects, it could establish the official platform needed for both sides to assess opportunities and pursue future cooperation more systematically.

With Bayraktar expected in Dhaka before year-end, officials from both countries are likely to continue refining the details of the cooperation framework. The discussions in Ankara have set out an agenda that combines renewable energy, resource development, LNG transport and offshore infrastructure, giving the prospective visit a broad and potentially consequential energy-sector focus.