Bangladesh and Turkmenistan vowed to strengthen bilateral relations during the political consultations between the two countries held in Ashgabat on 15 August 2026.

Ambassador Dr. M. Nazrul Islam, Secretary, Bilateral (East & West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and Ahmet Gurbanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan led their respective delegations during the meeting.

Both sides emphasized that there is huge, untapped potential and discussed entire gamut of bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkmenistan.

They attached high priority to expanding and deepening the relations between Bangladesh and Turkmenistan. They emphasized increasing bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.  They discussed that Bangladesh’s global leadership in Ready-Made Garments (RMG) and, Turkmenistan’s reputation of cotton production are comparative advantages to have collaboration and partnership in the sector. Turkmenistan also showed interest in partnership in Pharma sector given that the state-of-the art production facilities and expertise in Bangladesh.

Turkmenistan, the 5th largest reservoir of natural gas in the world and a vast reservoir of oil, is very much interested to support Bangladesh for her energy security. They also discussed possible cooperation in agriculture sectors and Turkmenistan offered their fertilizers to Bangladesh. Bangladesh requested Turkmenistan to imports jute & jute products, ceramics, light engineering items, and semi-conductors from Bangladesh. They also discussed cooperation and partnership in areas of petrochemicals and semi-conductor.

The delegations of Bangladesh and Turkmenistan discussed and agreed to work on a ‘Program of Action: 2027-2029’ to conclude few bilateral instruments regarding cooperation in areas such as trade and economic cooperation, cultural cooperation, visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders, tourism promotion, avoidance of double taxation, promotion and protection of investments, cooperation in the fields of industries, and cooperation between foreign service academies.

Under the tentative ‘Program of Action’, both Bangladesh and Turkmenistan also agreed to encourage more private sectors and chambers interactions to realize the potential. Bangladesh invited investors from Turkmenistan to explore the investment friendly climate in Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh. They discussed possibilities of formation of a Joint Working Group (JWC) on Trade and Economic Cooperation. They stressed to further deepen the political cohesion and proposed organizing reciprocal high level visits between the two countries. They also discussed to explore the formation of a Bangladesh-Turkmenistan Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance regular interaction among the parliamentarians.

They further discussed for deeper people to people connectivity, cooperation in culture, education and sports, exchanges of students, youths, tourists, and cultural troupes and employment opportunities of highly skilled and semi-skilled professional workforce from Bangladesh to Turkmenistan.

Bangladesh and Turkmenistan agreed to deepen coordination on regional and global issues and support each other across international platforms, including at the UN, OIC and NAM. Bangladesh expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for their support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the Presidency of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Turkmenistan expressed their supports to Bangladesh on Rohingya issue.

The delegations noted that regular consultation is vital for future engagements in different areas of cooperation. They decided to hold the next round of consultation in Dhaka at a mutually convenient schedule.

M. Amanul Haq, Bangladesh Ambassador to Turkey, S. M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General (East Europe & CIS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, and Mr. Gurbandurdy Saparov, Director of Asia-Pacific Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs among others were present during the meeting.