Turkey has expressed intent for engaging Bangladesh in joint production and technology transfer in the areas of defence and other science-based sectors, foreign minister of the country Mevlut Cavusoglu said in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The Turkish minister said this in a joint press briefing after a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.

Major Turkish companies are interested to invest in Bangladesh in the areas ranging from health, education, construction and  defence and there are potential to raise bilateral trade from less than $1 billion to $2 billion, said Cavusoglu.

On the issue of forcibly displaced Rohingya people of Myanmar, the Turkish foreign minister alleged that the international communities were not doing enough to share Bangladesh’s burden.

‘They talk in very nice words,’ he said, adding that the international community should back the efforts for ensuring a safe, voluntary and dignified return of the refugees to their home in Myanmar.

Turkey has proposed Bangladesh to construct proper camps with education facilities to improve the living condition of the refugees.

He supported Bangladesh’s move to relocate Rohingya people from the camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhasan Char Island for better living conditions until the repatriation took place.

He suggested the Bangladesh government to work closely with the UN agencies on Rohingya issues.

The Turkish minister called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday morning.

He also inaugurated the chancery building of Turkey in the diplomatic zone in Dhaka.

Cavusoglu reached Dhaka in a special flight on Tuesday evening on a two-day official visit. He left Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.