Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman returned home today after completing a five-day official visit to Turkey aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and military ties between the two countries. The visit included high-level meetings, facility tours, and discussions on mutual interests.
Upon arrival in Turkey, General Waker paid tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk by laying a wreath at his mausoleum, Anitkabir. This act underscored the respect and historical ties between Bangladesh and Turkey.
During the visit, General Waker held separate courtesy meetings with Turkish Minister of National Defence Yaşar Güler, Chief of the Turkish General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces General Metin Tokel, and Director of the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Rear Admiral Recep Erdinç Yetkin. He also met with representatives of the Turkish Defence Industry Agency (SSB).
The meetings focused on the longstanding friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkey, bilateral defence cooperation, military training, defence technology, collaboration in the defence industry, capacity building, and other issues of mutual interest. Both sides expressed keen interest in further expanding professional cooperation, exchange of experience, and defence collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries.
As part of the visit, General Waker toured several leading Turkish defence and military technology companies, including ASISGUARD, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE), SARSILMAZ, STM, ROKETSAN, ASELSAN, and BAYKAR. He was briefed on their production systems, research and development activities, advanced technologies, innovations, defence manufacturing capabilities, and future technology development plans. He also exchanged views with senior officials on potential areas of future cooperation.
