Army Chief Returns Home After Turkey Visit

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has returned home after completing a five-day official visit to Turkey. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that he arrived back in the country on Saturday, July 25.

According to ISPR, upon arriving in Turkey, the Army Chief paid his respects at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the country.

During the visit, General Waker-Uz-Zaman held separate courtesy meetings with Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces General Metin Tokel, and Rear Admiral Recep Erdinc Yetkin, Director of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard.

The Army Chief also met with a representative from Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB). While visiting the Turkish Land Forces Headquarters, he was accorded a guard of honour.

The meetings included productive discussions on existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, bilateral defense cooperation, military training, defense technology, collaboration in the defense industry, capacity building, and various matters of mutual interest. Both sides expressed keen interest in further expanding professional ties, sharing experiences, and enhancing defense cooperation between the armed forces of the two nations.

As part of his itinerary, General Waker-Uz-Zaman visited the operations of several leading Turkish defense industry and military technology institutions. Notable organizations included ASİSGUARD, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), MKE, Sarsılmaz, STM, Roketsan, Aselsan, and Baykar Technology.

During these visits, the Army Chief was briefed on their manufacturing systems, research and development, cutting-edge technology, innovative activities, defense production capabilities, and future technological development plans. He also exchanged views with senior officials of the respective institutions to discuss potential areas of mutual cooperation.

The ISPR stated that the Army Chief's visit will play a vital role in further strengthening the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, particularly in the fields of defense industry, military technology, training, and capacity enhancement.