Even as the Bangladesh Army continues to import significant volumes of military hardware from China, the country is now forging deeper strategic defence ties with Turkey — a move that is drawing attention in New Delhi.
According to official sources, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is planning to establish defence industrial complexes in Chittagong and Narayanganj in partnership with Turkish defence firms. This development emerged during a recent five-day visit to Turkey by BIDA Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, where extensive discussions were held with Turkish officials.
Harun and his delegation were given exclusive access to Makine ve Kimya Endustrisi (MKE) — Turkey’s state-owned defence manufacturer based in Kirikkale, in Central Anatolia. The visit included classified briefings and on-site exposure to production and testing facilities, focusing on artillery systems, energetics, and small arms.
BIDA’s objective was to pursue co-production, technology transfer, and capacity-building agreements as part of a long-term plan to strengthen Bangladesh’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
This is not Bangladesh’s first engagement with MKE. In late 2024, the Bangladesh Army acquired 18 units of the MKE Boran 105mm howitzers, with the intent to expand that to 200 units. The country is also reportedly in talks to acquire TRG-230/300 rocket systems and Otokar Tulpar light tanks from Turkish manufacturers.
Defence cooperation between Bangladesh and Turkey has grown substantially since 2018, when Dhaka procured 15 types of military equipment, including Bayraktar TB2 drones, widely known for their battlefield effectiveness.
New defence clusters under evaluation
According to officials, the proposed defence industrial clusters in Chittagong and Narayanganj — both strategically located with access to ports or river systems — would be developed under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Act 2010, which offers tax holidays, customs exemptions, and flexible operating conditions for foreign investors.
MKE is expected to dispatch technical evaluation teams to conduct on-ground site assessments in the coming weeks. Sources also indicate that formal negotiations between Bangladesh and Turkey are underway to finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and institutionalise a Defence Industrial Working Group to coordinate policy, planning and implementation of joint projects.
India’s rising strategic concern
The growing alignment between Dhaka and Ankara in the defence sector — coupled with Bangladesh’s continued dependency on Chinese military supplies — is being closely monitored by Indian defence and diplomatic circles.
India views Bangladesh as a critical regional partner, and the emergence of Turkey, a close ally of Pakistan, as a defence collaborator with Bangladesh could reshape the regional strategic calculus.
While India has traditionally maintained strong bilateral and military ties with Bangladesh, including joint military exercises and border cooperation, the parallel deepening of ties with China and Turkey is likely to raise concerns in South Block about Bangladesh’s evolving defence posture and strategic independence.
Though there has been no official statement from India, analysts suggest New Delhi may seek greater engagement with Dhaka in defence diplomacy to avoid strategic surprises in its eastern neighbourhood.
