Mahesh Ranjan Debata
Recent developments suggest Turkey is spreading its strategic and pan-Islamic tentacles in South Asia, as it did in Central Asia and South Caucasus. Turkey’s decades-long ideological and defence bonhomie with Pakistan is well known. However, in the last few months, its overtures in Bangladesh poised to foment trouble in the Indian subcontinent.
In the second week of January this year, a Turkish delegation led by the country’s Trade Minister, Omer Bolat, met Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, and discussed various issues of importance for both countries, such as defence, trade and technology sharing.
What sounded important and sensitive was a statement made by Omer Bolat, who stated, "Turkey can replace India and other markets in Bangladesh's imports…” It is important to highlight here Ankara’s sinister designs to increase its bilateral trade with Dhaka from $1.3 billion to over $4 billion in the next few years, aiming to replace India as Bangladesh’s top trade partner.
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