Zubaida, Emine Erdogan Explore Cooperation on Climate Change, Women’s Healthcare

Dhaka, Bangladesh || Wednesday, 11 November 2026 || 26 Kartik 1433

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Zubaida, Emine Erdogan Explore Cooperation on Climate Change, Women’s Healthcare

Published : Wednesday, 11 November, 2026 at 6:58 PM, Count : 21

Zubaida, Emine Erdogan Explore Cooperation on Climate Change, Women’s Healthcare

Turkiye has expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Bangladesh in several key areas, including climate change adaptation, women and children’s healthcare, renewable energy and the production of environmentally friendly products.

Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan has shown particular interest in sending a team of experts to Bangladesh to share Turkiye’s experience and work jointly to address health challenges faced by women in coastal and marginalised communities due to climate change.

The issues were discussed during a meeting between Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and Emine Erdogan, wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam disclosed the details at a press conference on Tuesday at the Papillon Zeugma Relaxury Hotel in Antalya.

She said the meeting took place on the first day of the Bangladesh delegation’s participation in the COP31 climate summit and described the discussions as highly productive.

During the meeting, both sides explored opportunities for bilateral cooperation in addressing climate change and its adverse effects on women and children.

According to Shama Obaed, Emine Erdogan praised the resilience and capabilities of the Bangladeshi people in confronting climate-related challenges. She also expressed interest in collaborating on waste-to-energy projects, solar power generation and other environmentally sustainable initiatives.

Expanding the international market for Bangladeshi jute products, particularly eco-friendly and biodegradable alternatives to plastic, was another key topic. The Turkish First Lady expressed special interest in promoting these products in Turkiye and other global markets.

Shama Obaed said Zubaida Rahman highlighted the importance of women’s empowerment, women's healthcare and the growing health and social challenges faced by women and children as a result of climate change.

She also briefed Emine Erdogan on various government initiatives under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build an environmentally sustainable Bangladesh, including tree plantation programmes and the ‘Amar Khal Khanon’ (Dig My Canal) initiative.

Welcoming these initiatives, Emine Erdogan said there were significant opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in renewable energy, the production and export of jute products, women's empowerment and climate change adaptation.

The Rohingya crisis was also discussed during the meeting. Shama Obaed recalled that Emine Erdogan visited Bangladesh and the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in 2017, following the influx of Rohingya refugees.

She said the Turkish government had been providing humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas for years, stressing that their safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis.

The meeting also emphasised the need to ensure healthcare, education and other fundamental rights for Rohingya refugees until their return to Myanmar. Emine Erdogan assured that Turkiye would continue working with Bangladesh and providing necessary support.

Discussing the impact of climate change on women and children, Shama Obaed noted that women in Bangladesh’s coastal areas face persistent difficulties in adapting to increasingly harsh environmental conditions.

Issues including climate-induced internal displacement and health risks affecting women were also raised during the discussions.

Emine Erdogan expressed interest in sharing Turkiye’s experience in addressing these challenges and proposed sending a team of experts to Bangladesh to work alongside the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The two countries are expected to exchange expertise, particularly in tackling climate-related health problems among marginalised women and improving maternal healthcare services.

Shama Obaed further said Zubaida Rahman invited the Turkish First Lady to visit Bangladesh.

Recalling her previous visit in 2017, Emine Erdogan also expressed interest in returning to Bangladesh and hoped to make the trip at a mutually convenient time in the near future.

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