Turkey offers to send experts to Bangladesh to protect women’s and children’s health

Turkey wants to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh in tackling climate change, protecting women’s and children’s health, developing renewable energy, and expanding the production and markets for eco-friendly products. Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan expressed particular interest in sending an expert team to help address climate-related health problems facing women in Bangladesh’s coastal areas and marginalised communities.

The issues came up at a meeting between Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in Antalya, Turkey, on Tuesday (10 November).

Briefing reporters on the meeting, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed said representatives of the two countries held highly productive discussions on the first day of the Bangladesh delegation’s participation in the COP31 climate conference.

She said the meeting focused on the adverse effects of climate change, particularly on the health and lives of women and children. Emine Erdogan praised the capacity and resilience of Bangladesh’s people in confronting climate challenges.

She expressed interest in working with Bangladesh on waste-to-energy production, solar power and various eco-friendly initiatives. The meeting also discussed increasing the use of Bangladeshi jute and biodegradable products as alternatives to plastic and expanding their exports to international markets.

Dr Zubaida Rahman highlighted women’s empowerment and health protection in Bangladesh, as well as the health and social challenges that climate change poses for women and children. She also briefed Emine Erdogan on government initiatives to protect the environment, particularly tree planting and canal excavation programmes.

Praising these initiatives, the Turkish first lady said the two countries had considerable scope for cooperation in energy production, the use and export of jute products, women’s empowerment and tackling the effects of climate change.

Rohingya crisis also discussed

The Rohingya crisis also featured prominently in the meeting. Shama Obaed said Emine Erdogan had visited Bangladesh and the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar after the Rohingya took refuge in Bangladesh in 2017. Turkey has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya since then.

She said a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis lay in their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation. The meeting also discussed ensuring healthcare, education and other basic rights for the Rohingya sheltering in Bangladesh until their repatriation. The Turkish first lady pledged to stand by Bangladesh in this regard.

Offer to send experts to protect women’s health

The meeting highlighted climate-related health risks facing women in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, internal displacement and the difficulties of living in adverse environmental conditions.

Emine Erdogan expressed interest in sharing Turkey’s experience with Bangladesh to address these challenges. She proposed sending an expert team to work with Bangladesh’s health ministry.

The discussions focused particularly on exchanging experience and technical cooperation to address climate-related health problems among marginalised women and improve maternal health.

Dr Zubaida Rahman also invited Emine Erdogan to visit Bangladesh. Recalling her 2017 visit, the Turkish first lady expressed interest in returning and hoped to visit soon at a convenient time.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed shared these details of the meeting at the press conference.