By Betul Yuruk
ANKARA -
For three decades, Salahuddin Kasem Khan has voluntarily served as Turkey's Honorary Consul General to Bangladesh. His links with Turkey, he says, trace back through several generations of love and inspiration.
Khan's grandfather was a minister in Pakistan, and his father used to accompany him during diplomatic receptions. This was the time when Khan became attracted to the world of diplomacy.
"It was a great honor for me when my name was proposed as Turkey's Honorary Consul General to Bangladesh," he told Anadolu Agency.
"Muslims of Bengal have been highly inspired by Turkey's liberation war and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the founder of the Turkish Republic). Turkey's independence war set an example for Africa and Asia."
Babies were named after Ataturk during those years and Bangladeshi poets wrote poems about Ataturk, he said.
Previously ruled by the British Raj, Bangladesh gained its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
"Once known as the sick man of Europe, today Turkey has a strong economy, and sets an example for the rest of Muslim countries about how a modern state can be created," he said.
Khan describes Bangladesh as a gate to Asia and says Turkey should invest in the country. He thinks a free trade agreement between the two countries could improve their trade, which is currently at US$1.2 billion.
"We believe that Turkish companies will not miss the advantage of investing in Bangladesh," he said. "But currently, the level of Turkish investment is very low."
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