Bangladesh active in fighting FETO: Turkish envoy

ANKARA

Bangladesh has been active in the fight against the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, said Turkey’s ambassador to the South Asian country on Friday.

Devrim Ozturk, Turkey's ambassador to Dhaka, told Anadolu Agency in Ankara, where he attended the 10th Ambassador's Conference that Bangladesh had closed the FETO chamber of commerce immediately after the defeated coup.

Ozturk noted that they are working closely with the Turkish Maarif Foundation, founded by the government to fulfill the transfer of FETO schools to Turkey.

There are eight branches of boarding schools that are still affiliated to the FETO terrorist group in Bangladesh and Ankara is discussing the transfer of the schools with Dhaka.

"We have held meetings with the Maarif Foundation. Bangladesh is a very crowded country with a shortage of schools. There are 2,000 students enrolled in these schools, they didn't want to close the schools for this reason," he said.

In addition to the defeated coup, which martyred 251 people and injured thousands, Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, including the military, police, judiciary, and schools.

FETO also has a considerable presence outside Turkey, including private educational institutions that serve as a revenue stream for the terrorist group.

'Tremendous potential'

Turkey was the first country to stretch a helping hand to the Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar's Rakhine state, Ozturk said.

Since Aug. 25, 2017, more than 750,000 refugees, mostly children women, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to Amnesty International.

At least 9,400 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24 last year, according to Doctors Without Borders.

The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

The first lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan, then Prime Minister Binali Yildirim were among the first people to visit the refugees in Bangladesh.

Ozturk said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Turkish Red Crescent and numerous Turkish NGOs will continue to offer aid to the refugees.

According to the Turkish envoy, the Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar should be able to return home as soon as possible.

"Bangladesh wants this, Bangladesh wants the international community to put pressure on Myanmar. Myanmar's policy is not constructive," he added.

The ambassador said the trade volume between Turkey and Bangladesh totaled $1 billion in the last five years.

The report of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), shows that Turkey is among the top 10 trading partners of Bangladesh.

"We have a tremendous potential to push further the development of our economic relations," Ozturk concluded.

Turkey's new embassy compound in Dhaka is under construction and is expected to open by the summer of 2019.