Bangladesh's growing defence cooperation with Turkey poses serious strategic risks, according to a report by Eurasia Review, which warns that Ankara's documented backing of extremist Islamist networks could leave Dhaka more vulnerable — not more secure. The report, published on 14 June, comes as millions of Bangladeshis remain mired in poverty following last year's economic deterioration.

Core Concerns Over Ankara's Extremist Ties

The Eurasia Review report alleges that Turkey has actively promoted extremist elements aimed at destabilising Bangladesh, encouraged Islamist groups in minority persecution, and emboldened militant networks that target liberal voices. According to the report, several former counter-terrorism officials — speaking on condition of anonymity, citing fear of retribution — have raised alarms over the deepening military and strategic relationship, pointing to what they describe as Turkish patronage of extremist ecosystems in Bangladesh over the past twenty months.

The report frames these activities as part of a broader geopolitical strategy by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to position himself as a dominant voice in the Muslim world, with regional destabilisation serving as a tool of influence.

The Fidan Visit and the Rohingya Pledge

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's recent visit to Dhaka, where he met his Bangladeshi counterpart Khalilur Rahman, drew pointed criticism in the report. Fidan described Bangladesh as 'extremely important for a stable South Asia' — a characterisation the report called 'plainly ironic' given the alleged Turkish role in regional instability.

The report also cast doubt on Fidan's pledge of support for Rohingya repatriation, describing it as 'another hoax'. It alleged that Turkish intelligence has been linked to extremist outfits recruiting militants inside Rohingya camps, exploiting the humanitarian vacuum created by cuts to international aid.

Cultural Heritage Under Threat

The bilateral visit also produced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation, committing both nations to the preservation and promotion of shared heritage. However, the Eurasia Review report noted a stark contradiction: over the same twenty-month period, thousands of statues connected to Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War heritage have reportedly been vandalised by groups allegedly backed by Ankara. Activists cited in the report described these acts as 'tantamount to cultural genocide'.

Strategic Calculus for Dhaka

The report acknowledged that Bangladesh has a legitimate interest in expanding defence partnerships to build self-reliance. However, it cautioned that over-dependence on a partner whose conduct is built on what it termed 'lies and deception' could leave the country in a more complicated and vulnerable position.

Summing up the risk, the report warned: 'Turkey is like a bear offering a warm woollen embrace, but Bangladesh will do well to realise that this could be really suffocating.' As Dhaka navigates its foreign policy choices, the report's findings are likely to intensify domestic debate over the true costs of the Turkey partnership.