Turkey plans Dhaka-Istanbul air route

Turkey plans Dhaka-Istanbul air route
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka

Turkey plans to introduce a direct air route between Dhaka and Istanbul from 2009 for further strengthening the ties between the two countries, particularly through enhancing economic cooperation.
The new Turkish ambassador in Dhaka, Sakir Ozkan Toruntar, apprised the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, of the plan when the envoy paid a courtesy call on him at the CA’s office on Sunday morning.
He also informed that the next joint economic council meeting would be held in Turkey next year.
Bangladesh is one of the four Asian countries where Turkey has development cooperation and investment, Sakir mentioned.
He also noted that the trade volume between Dhaka and Ankara rose to $500 million last month from around $300 million.
He said the number of scholarships of Turkish government for students of Bangladesh would be increased.
The chief adviser said Turkey’s investors could make further investment in Bangladesh availing the attractive investment incentive packages offered by the government for foreign investors.
He said the investors could invest particularly in infrastructure development which has high demand both in public and private sectors. And the demand would increase in the next few years.
Fakhruddin observed that trade relations between the two countries were expanding and hoped for further expansion.
‘There are opportunities to expand relations in different areas,’ the head of the interim government told the envoy.
The Turkish ambassador thanked for Bangladesh’s support to Turkey in becoming UN Security Council member.
Referring to different streets in Bangladesh named after Kemal Ataturk and two
streets in Ankara after the names of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Ziaur Rahman, Sakir said it showed the ‘good bonds of love and friendship between the two countries’.
The CA said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its relations with Turkey and mentioned the longstanding cultural and historical ties between the two peoples.
CA’s press secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, who was at the meeting, briefed newspersons about the talks.