On Thursday, the head of Bangladesh's interim administration urged Turkey to transfer its technology to the South Asian nation and support the development of its defence sector.

"You are the leader of the technology; you can build your defense industry here. Let’s make a beginning ... we are available for anything that you need," Muhammad Yunus told a Turkish delegation led by Trade Minister Ömer Bolat.

Bolat stated that the two nations may expand their collaboration beyond the textile sector, which is the main source of Bangladeshi imports for Turkey, during their meeting in the capital city of Dhaka.

He claimed that the defence industry, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural machines could all benefit from economic collaboration.

In 2023–24, Bangladesh's imports totalled about $424 million, while its exports to Turkey totalled about $581 million.

"We can replace India and other markets in Bangladesh’s imports. There can be cooperation in economic and social fields at all levels," Bolat said.

Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world, said Yunus, adding that his government was working to create work opportunities for the country’s youths, thus it sought Türkiye’s help in this regard.

"Use our young people to run your factories here (in Bangladesh) so that you can supply your products in the region,” Yunus said.

Almost 20 sizable Turkish businesses are active in Bangladesh in the fields of engineering, building, energy, chemicals, accessories, and clothing and textiles.

Yunus, a Nobel Peace laureate, assumed leadership of Bangladesh's interim administration in August with the intention of bringing the nation back to stability after weeks of bloodshed that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and escape to neighbouring India.

Known as the "banker to the poor," Yunus is the pioneer of the global microcredit movement. The Grameen Bank he founded won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for helping lift millions from poverty by providing tiny loans to the rural poor who are too impoverished to gain attention from traditional banks.

Yunus is tasked with bringing stability back to the country that witnessed some of its worst violence in decades and then hold fresh parliamentary elections.