Bangladesh’s Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said Bangladesh and Türkiye share centuries-old historical ties that are expected to deepen further.

“Bangladesh-Türkiye relations are neither recent nor limited to a few decades. We have centuries-old traditional ties with the people of Türkiye, and these relations will advance further in the coming days, Insha’Allah,” he said.

Dr Shafiqur made the remarks on Friday as the chief guest at the Second International Conference on Bangladesh Studies at Istanbul University in Türkiye.

The conference was jointly organised by Istanbul University and the Centre for Policy and Social Research (CPSR) under the theme “Multidimensional Perspectives on Reforms in Bangladesh 2.0 and New Horizons for Türkiye-Bangladesh Cooperation.”

The event brought together academics, policymakers, diplomats, researchers and representatives of various organisations from Bangladesh, Türkiye and other countries to discuss Bangladesh’s ongoing reform process, future state-building and prospects for bilateral cooperation.

Addressing the conference, Dr Shafiqur said such events played an important role in promoting international research on Bangladesh, facilitating policy dialogue and encouraging the exchange of experiences.

The keynote addresses were delivered by Dr Yasin Aktay, a former adviser to the Turkish president and professor at Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, and Dr Mokarram Hossain, a professor at Swansea University in the United Kingdom.

Istanbul University Vice-Rector Professor Dr Mehmet Adak delivered the opening remarks.

Among the special guests were Akif Yilmaz, chair of the Turkish parliament’s Bangladesh Friendship Group; Turkish MP Mustafa Kaya; Bangladesh MP Barrister Mahbubul Alam Salehi; Ibn Haldun University Professor Dr Irfan Ahmad; physician Dr SM Khaleduzzaman; Mahmoud Goksu, chairman of Türkiye’s New World Foundation and a former MP; Youth Wave Chairman Nurul Islam Saddam; and Emrullah Demir, head of foreign affairs at Türkiye’s Anatolian Youth Association.

CPSR Chairman Dr Hafizur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while Istanbul University Professor Dr Osman Akgul delivered the closing remarks. The conference was jointly moderated by CPSR Executive Director Dr ASM Mahmudul Hasan and Md Mahibbullah.

The conference provided a platform for international participants to discuss Bangladesh’s political and institutional reforms and explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye.