Türkiye Expresses Interest in Sending Women’s Health Experts as Zubaida Meets Emine Erdoğan

Türkiye has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Bangladesh in several areas, including addressing the impacts of climate change, protecting women's and children's health, promoting renewable energy and developing environmentally friendly products.

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan has particularly expressed willingness to send a team of experts to Bangladesh to share expertise and collaborate on addressing health challenges faced by women in coastal and marginalised communities due to climate change.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and Emine Erdoğan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam disclosed the details at a press conference on Tuesday at the Conference Room of Papillon Zeugma Relaxury Hotel in Antalya.

She said the meeting took place on the opening day of the Bangladesh delegation's participation in the COP31 climate summit and was highly productive.

Both sides discussed potential areas of bilateral cooperation to address climate change and its adverse effects on women and children. Shama Obaed said Emine Erdoğan praised the resilience and capabilities of the Bangladeshi people in dealing with climate-related challenges.

The Turkish First Lady also expressed interest in collaborating with Bangladesh on waste-to-energy projects, solar power generation and other environmentally friendly initiatives.

Discussions also focused on expanding the international market for Bangladeshi jute products, particularly biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. Emine Erdoğan showed special interest in promoting these products in Türkiye and other global markets.

During the meeting, Dr Zubaida Rahman highlighted women's empowerment, women's healthcare and the growing health and social challenges faced by women and children in Bangladesh due to climate change.

She also briefed the Turkish First Lady on various initiatives undertaken by the government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership to build an environmentally sustainable Bangladesh. These included tree plantation programmes and the 'Amar Khal Khanon' (Dig My Canal) initiative.

Appreciating these efforts, Emine Erdoğan said there was considerable scope for cooperation between the two countries in energy production, the use and export of jute products, women's empowerment and climate change mitigation.

The Rohingya crisis also featured in the discussions. Shama Obaed recalled that Emine Erdoğan visited Bangladesh and the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar in 2017, following the mass displacement of Rohingyas into the country.

The state minister said Türkiye had been providing humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees for many years. She added that their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation remained the only sustainable solution to the crisis.

Both sides also emphasised the need to ensure healthcare, education and other fundamental rights for Rohingyas until their return to Myanmar. Emine Erdoğan assured Bangladesh of Türkiye's continued cooperation and necessary support on the issue.

Highlighting the impact of climate change on women and children, Shama Obaed said women in Bangladesh's coastal regions regularly face difficulties adapting to increasingly harsh environmental conditions.

The meeting also addressed climate-induced internal displacement and the associated health risks faced by women.

According to the state minister, Emine Erdoğan expressed interest in sharing Türkiye's experience in tackling these challenges and proposed sending a team of experts to Bangladesh to work alongside the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The two countries are expected to exchange expertise, particularly in addressing climate-related health problems among marginalised women and improving maternal healthcare services.

Shama Obaed also said Dr Zubaida Rahman invited the Turkish First Lady to visit Bangladesh. Recalling her previous visit in 2017, Emine Erdoğan expressed interest in returning to the country and hoped to make the trip soon at a mutually convenient time.